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21 Best Travel Movies That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: September 8, 2023

Are you looking for some good movies about travel to kindle your wanderlust? This article has some great suggestions and some of the best travel films of all time . Find out!

Have you ever found yourself inspired to travel to one or the other location just because you saw it in a movie? It happens to me all the time! So in this article, I share some of my favorite travel movies , the ones that got me googling the filming location and planning a trip before the movie was even over.

If you are looking for a good story or some travel inspiration, then you’ll definitely find it in these films. These are one by one great travel movies and stories that will get you out of the couch and booking a trip to discover new destinations.

Below is my personal selection of some of the best travel movies of all time. Take a look!

Click on the title of the movie to see reviews, get a DVD, or watch it on Amazon Prime . Some of these movies are also available on Netflix.

These are the best travel films:

Into The Wild

Into The Wild is an unbelievable true story of a top student and athlete who abandons everything he has and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. This movie will probably stay with you forever.

It’s an inspiring story taking place in the most incredible landscapes of Alaska. If you choose just a few movies to watch from this list, definitely include this one in your selection!

The Way is a heart-warming story of a father who heads overseas to retrace the last days of his son’s life who passed away while traveling the Camino de Santiago trail in the Pyrenees (France – Spain). Once he gets there, he decides to take the pilgrimage himself.

This movie is about family, friendships, and life choices. And of course, the beautiful places along Camino de Santiago. It’s a powerful story that will make you think deeper about the difference of the life we live and the life we choose.

Under The Tuscan Sun

Under The Tuscan Sun is a romantic story that takes place in rural Tuscany . Lovely landscapes, an Italian lifestyle, and a heart-warming life story make it a perfect choice for a relaxing evening.

This beautiful light-hearted movie will get you planning a trip to Tuscany in Italy sooner than you think.

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty   is a light-hearted story for a movie night with friends. The movie features some of the most incredible travel destinations all over the world.

A lot of the scenes (even the ones from the Himalayas and Afghanistan) are filmed in Iceland and some in Greenland . The unbelievable adventures of Walter Mitty will leave you longing for an extraordinary adventure of your own.

This film is so good that it has inspired thousands and thousands of people to travel more and discover new places. If you watch just one movie from this list of the best travel films, make it ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’. You’ll love it!

A Walk in the Woods

A Walk in the Woods movie is based on a true story and a book by Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail .

The famous writer who never hiked much sets on the Appalachian Trail. With a total length of about 2,200 miles (3,500 km), this famous American hiking trail stretches through 14 states along the east coast of the United States, from Georgia to Maine.

I haven’t read the book and the reviews are somewhat mixed (it seems that people either love or hate Bryson and his writing style). But I find that the movie is really funny, entertaining, and the scenery will definitely inspire you to get outdoors and take a hike of your own.

Out of Africa

Ok, I know it’s an old one, but Out of Africa definitely deserves a place in the all-time favorite travel movies list.

Filmed in Kenya and the UK, this classic that has won 7 Oscars and countless other prizes will definitely get you dreaming of Africa. It’s one of those movies that you can watch again and again.

The Motorcycle Diaries

The Motorcycle Diaries is an awe-inspiring film that is based on the memoirs of Che Guevara.

It will take you to the most beautiful places in South America. A beautiful story in an incredible setting.

In Bruges  is very different from all the rest of the travel movies on this list. But I just had to include this movie in the top-20 of the best travel films because it’s filmed in Belgium, where we live.

It’s a hilarious dark comedy and a great performance by all three main characters in the most fantastic setting in Belgium’s most beautiful fairytale town.

If you haven’t been to Bruges, you’ll definitely want to visit it after watching this movie! Here you can find some inspiration with our insider tips for the best things to do in Bruges .

Before Sunrise – Before Sunset – Before Midnight

If you like Europe and deep meaningful dialogues with a good dose of humor, you’ll love this trilogy called Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight . We only discovered these films recently when we accidentally saw the first one, Before Sunrise, on TV. 

Regarded as one of the most significant films of the ’90s, Before Sunrise, was followed by two more sequels. We watched all three films and loved every second of it.

The first movie takes you to Vienna, Austria, the second one – to Paris, and the third – to the Greek Islands.

These travel films are probably not for everyone, but if you can appreciate this style, you’ll love them all!

Amélie

If you haven’t been to Paris yet, you will definitely want to plan a trip after watching this movie. If you have, you’ll want to return.

Amélie is a beautiful example of French cinema. It will also take you to the most inspiring locations in Paris. The film is set in the Montmartre neighborhood in Paris and shows you the more local side of living in this fascinating city.

This travel movie is based on a true story of a young woman who sets on a journey of over 1,000 miles hoping to recover after the passing of her mother.

Wild  is full of beautiful scenes throughout the Pacific Northwest in the U.S. This is one of those travel films that remind you that often the journey is more important than the destination.

Lost In Translation

A beautiful film that shows the fun and unexpected side of traveling in a new country. Lost In Translation is about the many little random travel experiences that stay with you long after you return back home.

The sights and the energy of Tokyo will get you planning a trip to Japan.

‘Lost in Translation’ is considered a real classic and one of the best travel films ever.

Midnight in Paris

Midnight in Paris is a bit different travel film than all the rest in this selection. And it’s probably not for everyone…

But if you like Woody Allen, Paris, and the artist lifestyle, then you’ll love this surreal story that takes you back to Paris of the 1920s.

A Good Year

A Good Year is a light-hearted romantic story that takes place in the most beautiful setting in the Provence region in the South of France.

This movie will not only inspire you to visit France but might also make you reconsider your life choices. It’s a story about leaving the rat race, getting back to your roots, and enjoying the simple things in life.

A truly great film!

The Way Back

The Way Back is inspired by an incredible true story of seven prisoners from very different backgrounds who try to escape from a Siberian prison in winter.

This movie is filmed in some amazing locations in India, Morocco, and Bulgaria and features some great actors.

The Beach is a great film from the ’90s that has a little bit of everything: good story, beautiful music, and amazing scenery from Thailand. Oh, and the young Leonardo DiCaprio, who once again proves that he deserves the Oscar he finally got recently.

For a while, Thailand even had to close Maya Beach on Koh Phi-Phi due to its increasing popularity which has been attributed mainly to this film. So if you feel inspired to visit Thailand after watching ‘The Beach’, you may want to look for some alternative beaches and beautiful islands.

You can find some inspiration in our Thailand island hopping itinerary .

Tracks is a beautiful adventure film of a young woman who crossed 1,700-miles over the deserts of West Australia with four camels and her faithful dog.

It’s based on a true story and featuring some amazing Australian landscapes. A beautiful film that will inspire you to visit the Australian Outback !

Encounters At The End Of The World

Encounters At The End Of The World is an incredibly beautiful and funny travel film about the people and animals who live in Antarctica.

If Antarctica was not on your travel list yet, it will be after watching this great documentary!

The Bucket List

The Bucket List is sentimental, predictable, and yet a very heart-warming story that will inspire you to tick off your bucket list sooner rather than later.

Filmed in various locations in India, China, Egypt, Tanzania, France, and the U.S., this movie will definitely give you some new ideas for the next trips.

Photos: IMDb

So, this is a list of some of my top travel films and favorite movies about travel. Have you seen any of these films? Which one is your favorite travel movie of all time?

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin this image!

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Monday 18th of September 2023

When I’m always about to go on an adventure I keep coming back to this page to get inspired to travel to somewhere new

Thursday 21st of September 2023

What a great way to find some trip inspiration, Joshua. Happy travels!

Sunday 5th of March 2023

They aren’t travel movies, but The Lord of the Rings trilogy inspired me to go to New Zealand! How could those scenes in the mountains not inspire everyone?

Monday 6th of March 2023

Agree! (and New Zealand is absolutely stunning ;))

Thursday 2nd of March 2023

Thank you for sharing! This list is awesome!

Saturday 22nd of October 2022

If you wanna know one more... U can watch "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara". It means "U won't have a second Life again". It's soo good and so inspiring...thank me later.

Sunday 23rd of October 2022

Thanks for the recommendation, Asif! Will see if we can find this movie.

Sunday 10th of April 2022

Thank you for the awesome movie recommendations

60 Best Travel Movies to Inspire Wanderlust

Written By: The Planet D

Travel Movies

Updated On: February 14, 2024

What makes for great travel movies? We feel it is when the destination becomes the star. A movie that showcases beautiful cities , landscapes, and culture is a movie that inspires us to visit a destination or relive our time there when we get home. Dave and I love movies. We worked in the film business in our previous careers and lived for the cinema. So when we chose our list of the best travel movies, we took it seriously. 

Table of Contents

The Best Travel Movies

Our choices for the best travel movies are probably very different than yours, so leave a comment and let us know what you think the best travel movies are. We are always looking for new travel films to ignite our wanderlust. To rent or buy one of these travel films to inspire wanderlust right now, check out Amazon Instant Video

The Best Travel Movies to Inspire Wanderlust

1. in bruges.

This is by far the best travel movie. One of the characters actually carries around a guidebook! If you love a good caper set in an exotic location, you’ll love In Bruges. Collin Farrel and Brendan Gleeson star as two hit men who are sent to Bruges, Belgium to hide out after a job goes bad.

The more Colin Farrell’s character complained of hating Bruges (in Belgium), the more you took in the surroundings of Bruges and noticed just how picturesque the city is. While the film is primarily a crime drama and dark comedy it intertwines the city’s picturesque locations and cultural aspects with the narrative seamlessly.

Rent or Buy In Bruges on Amazon

2. banshees of inisherin trailer

I was so excited to see Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson reunite and this time, they share screen time in one of the newest travel films on our list, the Banshees of Inisherin. The movie takes place on the Aran Islands of Ireland and showcases the beauty of that destination as two friends go through some very dark times.

Gleessan’s character Colm decides he has wasted his life and cuts ties with his lifelong best friend Pádraic (Farrell) and all kinds of darkness begins. It had some of the best acting I’ve seen in years, and every one of the four main cast was nominated for Acadamy Awards.

3. One Week

One of our favorite travel movies of all time. And not because it is set in Canada. One Week follows a young man driving a motorcycle on a cross-country road trip across Canada after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. No movie has made me want to explore a country more than One Week. It showcases Canada beautifully.

I didn’t want to see this movie because of its morbid subject, but it ended up being an uplifting and enlightening film of self-discovery. It truly is the ultimate Canadian road trip movie. Rent One Week Here on Amazon

4. Secret Life of Walter Mitty

I had to watch this most popular of all travel films twice before deciding I liked The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and I can understand why it is at the top of most lists of best travel movies. This movie takes you from New York, to Iceland, Greenland and the Himalayas.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty shows how taking a risk and getting out of your comfort zone can lead to great things. The ending was my favorite, but I won’t spoil it for you. Rent it now .

5. Before Sunrise Trilogy

We have three of our favorite travel movies in one package! And each showcases the destination they are in. The Before Sunrise movies are about love but they are also very much travel films. They were filmed 10 years apart and they take place in three different locations around Europe – Vienna , Paris , and Greece .

The Before Sunrise trilogies capture the essence of each destination. And here’s a cool fact – Dave and I stayed at  Costa Navarino  in Greece where After Midnight took place!

It is probably the best of all romantic travel movies out there that literally spans three decades. (They film a movie every 10 years). Watch Before Sunrise and Sunset on Amazon Prime

6. Planes Trains and Automobiles

John Candy and Steve Martin take an unexpected cross country road trip from New York City to Chicago. This is Dave’s pick for the best travel movie.

This is considered one of the great comedy travel movies, but I look at it as a drama. John Candy’s character breaks my heart. You may think of it as a holiday film but it is also one of the funniest travel films out there. If you’re in the mood for a good heartfelt comedy,  rent it today.

7. Julie & Julia

Not only does Julie and Julia star the great Meryl Streep but this travel movie is based on blogging. It’s like it was made for us! I was surprised by how much I loved this movie based on the true story of Julia Child and I didn’t go in expecting much.

Julie & Julia follows the life of Julia Child during her time in Paris and cuts throughout to the present day in New York . It makes you crave French cuisine and a life of decadence in France. When it comes to choosing a  favorite travel movie this one is right up there. Rent it now

8. The Big Year

The Big Year follows Jack Black (who doesn’t love Jack Black?), Owen Wilson, and Steve Martin traveling around the United States with hopes of becoming the number 1 bird watcher in the world. It ended up being one of the most surprising travel films I’ve seen.

They are obsessed with spotting more species of birds than any other person in 365 days. I related to this movie because it is more about the journey and how having a great adventure can change a life. Rent it Now

Best Travel Movies for Adventure Lovers

9. into the wild.

The real-life true story chronicles the journey of  Christopher McCandless who went on a cross country road trip through the US and ended up in Alaska .

I read Into the Wild years ago and was mesmerized trying to figure out how someone could give up everything to go and live off the grid. John Krakauer dug into the psyche of McCandless and what motivates people to take risks.

Things don’t turn out as he hoped, and it is a lesson learned for would-be adventurers. Enjoy it now !

Wild is an adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s travel memoir, From Lost To Found On The Pacific Crest Trail. Based on a true story, it follows her journey about putting a life back together after it all falls apart.

Pushing the limits physically on the Pacific Crest Trail and stepping out of her comfort zone take her on a journey of self-discovery. A struggle and journey can change a life and Reese Witherspoon is excellant as usual. Check it out on Amazon

11. Everest

Everest by John Krakauer is the true story of the catastrophe that happened on Everest in 1996. It’s a first-hand account by Krakauer who was on Everest at the time. While the movie focuses on the events, it does showcase the psyche of why people climb mountains and it shows the culture and beauty of the Everest Region.

As far as travel movies go, even though it is based on a dark subject, it does make me want to go to Everest. So we did! Plus, it stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Josh Brolin, so how can you go wrong?

• You can rent this movie made in Hollywood
• You can also check out the documentary.

Tracks is another travel movie base on a true story and I really enjoyed it. It’s a film about a young woman who walks across Australia from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean with four camels and her pet dog.

What I really liked is how the lead character Robyn Davidson learns the skills needed to survive. She is visited by a photographer from National Geographic who shared her story and was led through the sacred lands of the Outback by an Aboriginal elder. Watch this Amazing true story on Amazon ! 

13. World’s Fastest Indian 

From New Zealand to America, Anthony Hopkins takes his Indian Motorcycle to the salt flats to see how far he can go. The World’s Fastest Indian is one of my favorite performances by Hopkins and it is one of the great underrated travel movies.

He is vulnerable, lovable, and inspiring. This true story takes you on a fun road trip along the way until he reaches the Salt Flats of California and that is when you really start rooting for him to win! Rent it on Amazon Prime

14. Adventures of Pricilla Queen of the Desert

Adventures of Pricilla Queen of the Desert follows a group of drag queens taking a cross country road trip in a van named “Pricilla” from Sydney to Alice Springs where they are going to perform their drag show.

They meet a lot of characters along the way and this film introduced us to superstars Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce who joined the already-established Terrence Stamp.

15. Motorcycle Diaries

Ever since watching one of the best travel movies about South America, (you guessed it, the Motorcycle Diaries) wanted to do a road trip through South America. (PS. I’m still dreaming of that road trip through South America one day)

Gael García Bernal stars as Che Guevera and it follows his journey on a motorcycle trip through South America before he became a part of the revolution. This movie is based on a true story where Che traveled through the continent and I believe it was traveling through South America that Che saw what people were going through and that is what sparked him to take action in his own way.

• Check it out for yourself
• Rent it on Amazon

16. The Way

Dave and I have always wanted to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain. This movie is a bittersweet tribute to the epic hike. Acting legend Martin Sheen walks the trail to honor his son Emilio Estevez (also director) who died on the walk. This movie explores themes of grief, regret, and understanding.

Sheen’s character finishes what his son started helping him connect and understand his son while examining his own life and is one of the most moving travel movies on our list. You can watch it on Amazon

Best Classic Travel Movies

17. lawrence of arabia.

Lawrence of Arabia made us dream of the Arabian Desert and that is what travel films are meant to do. I would say that this is often considered one of the best travel movies of all time. It’s the original travel movie for sure and it really does capture the majesty of the Arabian Desert.

When we got the chance to visit Jordan and walk in the footsteps of the real Lawrence of Arabia, we couldn’t believe we were living our own travel movie. This will make you want to go on an adventure and spend the night in a Bedouin tent. Rent it on Amazon Prime Now

18. Out of Africa

If you want another Meryl Streep vehicle that is often considered one of the best travel movies, you should try  Out of Africa. Out of Africa takes place in a different time, but it captures the heart of Africa beautifully.

Based on a true story, Meryl Streep stars as a married baroness in love with big game hunter Robert Redford. Their chemistry is unmistakable. She falls in love with Africa and you will fall in love with it too.

The cinematography is outstanding. It won 7 Oscars including Best Picture and Best Cinematography. Rent Out of Africa

19. Romancing the Stone

Who didn’t fantasize about an adventure in Colombia after watching Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas in Romancing the Stone? As a kid I always thought about the line “ I need to get to Cartagena ” and while I had no idea where Cartagena was,(It’s in South America by the way) I knew it was exciting.

In the most romanticly fun of travel movies, Kathleen Turner transformed from a scared writer who merely writes about adventure, to a woman encountering an adventure and meeting a rugged mysterious man in exotic Columbia. Watch Romancing the Stone today

20. The Bucket List

With two of my favorite actors and a message to live life to the fullest, the Bucket List is one amazing movie and one of the best travel movies. I think it actually invented the term, The Bucket List. The phrase has been overused in recent years, but the message never gets old. The Bucket List is the original “live your dreams now” travel movie.

It’s beautifully acted, heartfelt, and showcases how life should be lived to the fullest. Rent or buy it here!

Most people say that Amelie is one of the best travel movies of all time. So this list wouldn’t be complete without it. I did love the views of Paris and the everyday life showcased in Montmartre.

I also enjoyed the uplifting message of a quiet young woman named, Amelie helping the people around her in the lovely district of Montmartre in Paris. If you want to watch sweeping scenes through Paris streets and if you love Paris, you can’t help but like Amelie. So check it out !

22. Roman Holiday

This did not age well in our opinion. We watched it recently and it is just downright bad. Many people will probably disagree. But as far as travel movies go, it is fun to see a princess posing as a regular young Woman zipping around Rome.

They should remake Roman Holiday, it would be fun. Rent it on Prime

23. Sideways

I admit it. After this movie came out, I didn’t drink Merlot for years! Sideways takes us on a road trip through California wine country and it really is filled with amazing performances by Paul Giamatti, Sandra Oh, Virginia Madsen, and Thomas Hayden Church.

We have been to Santa Maria, California, and this movie captures the feel of wine country perfectly. Rent or buy on Amazon Prime 

24. Up in the Air

Up in the Air makes you love the idea of travel but it shows the emptiness that the life of a vagabond can lead to if you don’t stay grounded with your family and friends. It’s not in the genre of typical travel films out there, but travel is the main theme.

I cannot go through airport security anymore without thinking of George Clooney as his character has the art of travel down to a science.

This movie also has a great message that Dave and I can relate to. We all become so consumed with our careers and our lives that we forget about what is important. Get it on Amazon Instant Video

Best Travel Movies Highlighting Destinations

25. ticket to paradise.

Our newest addition to our travel movies is from two legends, George Clooney and Julia Roberts who take us to Bali for their daughter’s wedding. The two divorced years ago, but agree that their daughter is too young to get married and decide to sabotage the wedding.

This movie showcases the culture and beauty of Bali while showing us once again how travel can be transformational and can change your life.

I love these two together, George and Julia, and great friends in real life and have amazing on-screen chemistry.

26. The Beach – Thailand

The Beach is the original backpacker slacker travel film. The Beach captures what Thailand was like before tourists started flocking to it en-masse. At one time, it was an off-the-beaten-path backpacker destination. We enjoyed the book more, but you can never go wrong with Leo.

If you want to get a sense of what it was like to travel to Thailand before mass tourism, this is a good movie for you. Plus it is beautiful and as far as travel movies go, it will make you want to go to Thailand. Not only are the people beautiful, but the scenery of southern Thailand is also out of this world.

Take in the journey as they search for a hidden beach that is pure perfection.

27. Lost in Translation – Tokyo

Tokyo is a bit strange. It is unlike anywhere else on earth, and Lost in Translation showcases the culture shock that one feels when staying in a different city.

There are different customs in Japan and the culture is much different than anywhere else and this movie captures that odd feeling you get when traveling there. Lost in Translation highlights some of the best spots in Tokyo.

The hotel where the movie takes place still has one of the best views in the city! And who doesn’t love Bill Murray? He is priceless and it’s one of Scarlett Johanson’s best performances. Check it Out

28. Slumdog Millionaire – India

We traveled to India in 2010 and Slumdog Millionaire seemed to capture the true slums of India while showcasing the heart of the people. Many of the rich cities are modern, but when traveling through rural India and the poorer areas, this is what it’s like.

Dev Patel stars as a young Indian boy who gets on a game show that could change his life. It’s heartbreaking, raw, and sometimes uncomfortable which is exactly what travel can be too hence why it made the list of our favorite travel movies. Download it here on Amazon

If you are a fan of Dev Patel (as we are) you will love him in another of our favorite travel films, Lion. Lion is based on a true story and is an emotional journey that takes audiences across India and Australia spanning cultures, and decades.

Patel plays Saroo Brierley, a young Indian boy who gets lost on a train in India at the age of five. After surviving several challenges on the streets of Kolkata and eventually being adopted by an Australian family, Saroo, as an adult, uses Google Earth to find his birth mother and the journey begins. The movie also stars Nicol Kidman.

30. Vicky, Cristina Barcelona – Spain

Admit it, we all want to go to Spain and run into beautiful people like Penelope Cruz and Javier Barden. I think this movie did so well because it inspired everyone to go to Barcelona. (That’s our criteria for choosing the best travel movies, how they inspired travel)

Vicky Cristina Barcelona makes us dream of the cities in Spain , the passion of the Spanish people and getting away for a summer in Spain.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona definitely is an inspiring travel movie and one of the best travel films out there. It really captures the energy and passion of Spain in Barcelona . Rent Vicky Christina Barcelona on Amazon

31. Under the Tuscan Sun – Italy

For the romantics out there, Under the Tuscan Sun is one of the best travel movies. Wouldn’t you just love to buy a villa in Tuscany and fall in love with a stranger?

This is one of my favorite romantic travel films and Under the Tuscan Sun based on a true story. After a bad divorce, her character takes a trip to Italy courtesy of her best friend, (The incredible Sandra Oh!) and buys a house!

This travel movie is based on a true story where our star shares the trials and tribulations of renovating a Tuscan villa. You can rent Under the Tuscan Sun on Amazon

32. Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – India

We always preach that you are never too old to try something new and you are never too old to travel and that is the premise of one of the most beloved travel movies, Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. It’s chock full of great legendary actors including Dame Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, and Maggie Smith.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel follows a group of retirees who travel to India to live out their days at a crumbling retirement hotel. All mayhem and madness ensue as things can only in India. There’s romance, tragedy, and hope. Rent it now

33. A Good Year – Provence France

A Good Year made me want to go to Provence and live a simple life…on a multi-million dollar vineyard estate. That’s reasonable, right? And that’s what travel movies make you want to do…Pick up and go somewhere.

A Good Year makes life in Provence look like the Garden of Eden and I want a piece of it. Everyone is beautiful, everyone is a wine connoisseur, and everyone is pure and good. Who wouldn’t want to go to the south of France after seeing A Good Year? Rent it now.

34. Midnight in Paris – Paris

Looking for travel movies that combine time travel this movie night? Midnight in Paris captures the golden years of Paris as Owen Wilson walks through the streets at night in search of that romantic nostalgia of the city.

Blending time travel with traditional travel, this film showcases Paris’s rich history and examines how different eras appeal to different people.

He ends up meeting the famous patrons of the 1920s including Cole Porter, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and more! This travel movie makes me want to hop on a flight to Paris every time! Watch it on Amazon Prime or get it on DVD

35. Australia – Australia

This movie was crucified by the critics, but I loved it and its one of the best travel movies showcasing the beauty of Australia’s landscape. Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman take her cattle across the Outback.

It also touches on the injustices of how Australia treated the Aboriginal People, reminding me of what Canada did with residential schools to our own indigenous communities.

It’s beautifully shot and is a love letter to Australia while highlighting the true story of the Aboriginal struggles. I think it deserved more love than it got. Check it out on Amazon

36. The Impossible

It took me forever to finally watch the impossible because it is based on the true story of surviving the devastating Tsunami in Southeast Asia. It follows a family from England who are vacationing in Thailand and are impacted by the Tsunami.

It showcases the huge hearts that the Thai people have. Even while going through their own trauma, they play a huge role in helping this family get back together and survive.

The movie stars Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor and Tom Holland and it is one of the best performances I think Naomi Watts has ever done.

Lighthearted Travel Movies

37. eurovision.

This is one of the funniest travel movies out there. The movie kicks off (after a brief flashback) in Iceland showcasing its beautiful landscapes and waterfalls with sweeping drone shots of the stars performing.

It has all the stereotypes and cliches of Iceland, but it is done with heart and fun. It really is a love letter to Iceland. Follow Lars and Sigrit as they try to fulfill their dream of competing in Eurovision in Edinburgh. The movie gives a nice showcase of that city too making it two travel movies in one. Rent it on Amazon

38. Darjeeling Limited

This quirkiest of travel movies takes Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, and Adrian Brody across India one year after their father’s death starting on the Darjeeling Express train. It’s strange, heartbreaking, hilarious, and pure Wes Anderson.

When they visit their mother in an Ashram, it makes me think of the strange people that run away to India to find themselves. Oh yeah, he gets it. Check it out on Amazon Prime

39. Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Set in the very real Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu this pick on our travel movies list stars Jason Seigel as a Hollywood Writer who goes to Hawaii to heal his wounds after getting dumped by his girlfriend Kristen Bell. It turns out, she is there on vacation with her new boyfriend and shenanigans ensue.

This movie makes you want to book a plane to Hawaii and have your own stay at Turtle Bay which has now become very popular. Rent it on Prime

40. Last Holiday

If you are searching for comedy travel movies, this should be at the top of your list. This is the ultimate fairytale on how travel can change a life. And how we should all strive to live a better life. It’s too short to wait.

Queen Latifa is priceless as a woman who is diagnosed with a terminal disease, so she takes her life savings to enjoy her final holiday at a luxurious resort. She does everything from base jumping to snowboarding and indulging in decadent French cuisine.

If everyone took a holiday like this, we’d all live happier lives. Rent, Buy or Watch on Amazon Prime

41. The Holiday

It may be a Christmas movie, but The Holiday is one of the best travel movies out there. We watch it every year and it shows how travel is transformational. Starring Kate Winslett, Jack Black, Jude Law and Cameron Diaz, The Holiday flips back and forth between Los Angeles and England.

The two female stars have very different vacations as they house swap, but both have their lives changed through travel.

42. French Kiss

Meg Ryan plays a woman named Kate who is afraid to travel. When her fiance falls for another woman in France, she vows to win him back and travels there despite being terrified. Hilarity ensues when she meets con man Kevin Kline and they venture across the country together following the formula of travel movies galore.

My favorite scene is when she is indulging in cheese on the train. It’s that French moment that made me daydream about traveling by train across the French countryside. Watch French Kiss for yourself

43. My Life in Ruins

While not as good as My Big Fat Greek Wedding, My Life in Ruins is a nice comeback for Nia Vardalos in a fun-loving travel film.

She plays a tour leader taking stereotypical tourists through the sites of Greece. It’s fun, it’s romantic and the setting is beautiful. It’s not going to win any Academy Awards, but for a fun Saturday afternoon movie, this will transport you to Greece. Rent it or buy it on Amazon

44. The Hangover 2

The First Hangover was far better and it too is a travel movie taking you to Vegas. But when choosing travel movies from this trilogy, I had to choose the setting of Bangkok. It captures the crazy energy of the city.

My favorite scene is when Bradly Cooper has to go to the hospital and comes out with an absurdly low hospital bill. Dave and I have been to the hospital in Thailand and can attest, it is cheap. Rent it now! 

Blockbuster Travel Movies

45. star wars: the rise of skywalker & the last jedi.

One wouldn’t think of a movie based in outer space to be a travel movie that inspires wanderlust, but the last Star Wars Trilogy featured one of our favorite destinations on Earth, Skellig M ichael

This 6th-century monastery was a star unto itself as Luke trained Rey in the ways of the Force. It has now inspired many travelers and film buffs to take the hair-raising boat ride out to these rocky islands 12 km off the coast of Ireland. Check it out

46. Mama Mia

We actually learned where Mama Mia takes place while visiting the location where it was filmed, Pelion, Greece. The Greek islands are paradise, and Mama Mia follows the story of Meryl Streep who runs a hotel on the coast. We thought it was filmed somewhere like Santorini or Mykonos.

When her daughter becomes engaged, she invites three men who might be her father. It’s a rip-roaring good time of music, fun and beautiful scenery.

The Santorini blue and white houses, the crystal clear blue sea, and the music of Abba become those who watch to travel to Greece! Watch it on Prime today

47. Once Upon a Time in Mexico Trilogy

How sexy are Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayak together? You must watch the entire trilogy to really appreciate this series by Robert Rodrigues. Once Upon A Time In Mexico ends the trilogy with Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, and Cheech Marin. El Mariachi started it all starring Carlos Gallardo. My favorite of the 3 is Desperado , but they are all entertaining.

Once Upon A Time In Mexico is a fantasy and it is a stereotype of Mexico, but it makes you want to go to Mexico and have a great adventure. The scenery is gorgeous, the film is filled with cool style, and the music is fabulous. Watch the Trilogy today!

48. The Legend of Tarzan

The $180 million dollar budget makes sure to showcase the beauty of the African Savannah, the dense jungles, and the majestic wildlife. You feel as if you have entered the heart of Africa. Seriously, rent it, you’re going to like it a lot more than you think! Rent it on Amazon

49. The Tourist

It’s a little indulgent, and Angelina Jolie is a bit annoying to watch with how amazing she thinks she is in this, but it does capture taking an international trip to Europe beautifully.

It makes you want to have a romantic tryst in Venice . It makes you want to ride a train and have a mysterious encounter. It gives you a glimpse into how the rich live and travel the world.

50. The Thing

Recently we had someone write to us with a list of their favorite movies about travel. He mentioned the first Alien vs. Predator took place in Antarctica and I remember that being a pretty entertaining film. Then I thought about the classic Kurt Russel movie, The Thing .

This thriller takes place at a scientific base camp in the Antarctic and really lets you feel how claustrophobic and isolated researchers must feel when spending the winter at the bottom of the world. Watch it now!

51. Thelma and Louise

Who would have thought that Thelma and Louise would be heralded as one of the best travel films of all time, but it has. When researching this article, I saw that everyone had it on their list, so I had to include it. Besides, I love this film. I saw it at the theatre when it came out and it blew me away.

Brad Pitt makes his debut in this dark road trip adventure. Susan Sarandon and Geena Dave about female empowerment, friendship, and the transformative power of travel.

52. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Yes, this was a blockbuster film for teenagers. I remember working at YTV and this movie was going mad in the teen realm so I had to add it to my best travel movies list. The premise of the story revolves around four friends—Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen—who find a pair of jeans that, despite their differing body types, fits each of them perfectly. They decide to share these “magical” pants as they embark on their separate summer adventures, thus maintaining their connection with each other.

Where does the traveling come in? Well, Lena travels to Greece , Bridget goes to Mexico , Carmen visits her father in South Carolina, and Tibby stays in Maryland.

While not a “travel movie” in the traditional sense—where the main characters are often journeying together or the narrative revolves solely around their travel experiences—”Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” embodies elements of travel movies by incorporating different cultures, locations, and the concept of journeying (both physical and emotional) into its narrative.

53. Bourne Movies, James Bonds, Mission Impossible & Indiana Jones Movies

The Bourne movies, James Bond, Indian Jones, and Mission Impossible take us around the world with each movie and really are the best travel films to showcase the globe. These epic travel movies take audiences to a whole new level of taking an international trip with decadence, wealth, espionage, and romance.

I wanted to include them because if you are looking for some beautiful scenes from Europe and the Middle East, these travel films fit the bill. They are so good at taking you away to exotic places .

Our Favorites of These Epic Travel Movies are

54. the bourne identity.

The original takes us on an international trip from Switzerland through Paris. It’s the car scene in Paris that really captures the city but the entire movie is one big travel movie.

55. Casino Royal – James Bond

This makes us dream of living with the high rollers in Montenegro the beautiful people in the Bahamas. It’s as epic as epic travel movies get riding on trains, planes and yachts and it’s the best James Bond with Daniel Craig.

56. Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol

It’s not often that sequels are better than the original, but when it comes to the Mission Impossible series, each one out does the other. Tom Cruise loves to travel and push the limits creating the most epic travel movies on the planet. I chose Ghost Protocol because of its setting in Dubai and Cruise scaling the walls of the Burj Khalifa. (The tallest structure in the world)

Best Travel Movies in Fictional Settings

57. grand budapest hotel.

I can’t help it, I love Wes Anderson movies. He is offbeat and quirky. Grand Budapest Hotel is one of the best travel movies that isn’t set in any real place. This is all in a fictional setting.

I like this for a travel movie because it reminds me of the grand old hotels from another era. Well, it should because it is set in another era. The hotel is fictional, but it does take you away to another world. Rent it on Prime

58. Black Panther

Wakanda may be a fictional place in Africa, but this movie captures the spirit of East and South Africa. It embraces the African culture and many of the movie’s scenes were filmed in Africa.

We have been to Africa numerous times and this movie transported us there again. It may be fictional, but Black Panther is one fo the best travel movies to make you want to discover the culture and beauty of Africa. watch it now!

59. Lord of the Rings and Hobbit

They may be set in Middle Earth, but the Lord of the Rings movies are a love letter to New Zealand. As far as setting go, the trilogy makes for epic travel movies! Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit Movies make us want to go to New Zealand and these films capture its beauty perfectly.

Rent the trilogy on Amazon today

60. Eat Pray Love

And let us end with the mother of all travel movies, Eat Pray Love. Who doesn’t love Julia Roberts? However, Eat Pray Love wasn’t my favorite travel movie at all. But The book was okay but the movie starring Julia Roberts is dreadful. If you liked it, let me know. Maybe I’ll give it another watch in case I missed something. Rent it on Amazon

We’ll be updating this list regularly and we love finding new travel movies to watch. So, if you have suggestions for your favorite travel movies, leave them in the comments below and we’ll be sure to give them a watch!

Tell me what you think are the best travel movies and we will compare notes.

You May Enjoy these other inspiring posts:

• 44 of the Best Road Trip Songs
• Best Travel Songs Playlist
• Best Travel Books to Inspire Travel
• 60 of the Best Road Trip Songs to Rock the Long Drive
• 101 Best Travel Quotes in the World with Pictures

Disclosure:  The links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. We receive affiliate commissions, but it’s no extra cost to you!

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107 thoughts on “60 Best Travel Movies to Inspire Wanderlust”

Very interesting and thought-provoking list. Another film I think belongs in this company is “A Month by the Lake,” a 1995 work starring Vanessa Redgrave, Edward Fox, and Uma Thurman. Its setting, at the Villa del Balbianello on a peninsula in Lake Como, was used in scenes from a number of other movies, but here it gets starring role.

one of my favorite travel movies is “If it is Tuesday it must be Belgium”. it captures the travels and travails of some very uninformed American tourists on a guided tour. One of the wives, tired of the endless strings of cheese shops they visit heads back to their tour bus. The problem is it is the wrong tour bus. Hilarity ensues …

Thanks for the thoughtful list. Might I add a few more wanderlust-inducing movie recommendations/destinations that I have a hunch you will love?

Enchanted April (Italy) Shirley Valentine (Greece/Mykonos) Everything is Illuminated (Russia/Ukraine) Summer Lovers (Gene Siskel’s ‘guilty pleasure) (Greek Islands/Santorini) The Hundred Foot Journey (India/France) Local Hero (Scotland — and perfectly depicts how an enchanting location can change your view of what’s important in life) Anne of Green Gables — Kevin Sullivan version (Price Edward Island) Outsourced (India) Jean de Florette/Manon of the Spring (Provence France) The Quiet Man (Ireland) A Passage to India (India)

These are fantastic suggestions, thank sfor sharing! I’ve been wanting to see The Hundred Foot Journey. I think that will be my weekend watching!

Hi , thanks for sharing the best travel movies.

I love to watch 72 hours is my best travel movie all time.

Brilliant! Some of my teal favourites and now a list to watch. …many, many thanks. Allison

Great movies list all movies are best and all movies have a good rating on IMDb actually my favorite movie is LORD OF THE RINGS AND HOBBIT. and next, I would like to watch Star wars series.

Great choices of movies you have given a big list a great work

Great article! I will definitely choose a few movies that I haven’t seen yet. I could add a movie called “The Hundred-Foot Journey”. This film is about a Hindu family who moves to France, where they open a restaurant.

I’ve been meaning to watch that one. I think I will have to check it out this weekend and add it to the list! Thanks for the reminder.

Very comprehensive list! lots of great movies, and some of my favourites such as Seven Years inTibet and Walter Mitty.

I have to disagree with you about The Darjeeling Limited though: “When they visit their mother in an Ashram, it makes me think of the strange people that run away to India to find themselves. Oh yeah, he gets it.”

I felt the most important scene in the movie is when the guys rescue the boys in the river, and one doesn’t make it. They take part ion the family grieving and funeral, and have a very life-changing, profound experience. I felt the movie actually validates people “running away to India.”

In these difficult times especially, finding a sense of purpose, or meaning, or spirituality, or whatever you want to call it, is more important than ever. I think we will see a lot more people “running away to find themselves” and in fact, I am working on offering spiritual itineraries.

How about Red Eye and Flight Plan? I think they both portrait (fear of) commercial flying experience pretty good!

We have already watched quite a few of these ? gotta love a great movie night! Thanks for a great list, that we will start to work our way through ?

Great choices for movies! Others that come to mind are “Before Sunrise” and “Into the Wild.”

LORD OF THE RINGS AND HOBBIT is my favourite. i had watch so many times but always loved

This list couldn’t have come at a better time as we currently shelter in place and travel only through our TVs! Thank you.

All movies are great and my fav <3

great films..i watched some movie

OOH Julie and Julia is one of my all time favorites! And Eat Pray Love…It’s a good time for movies at home for sure!

Love the list. Thank you for sharing. As a classic movie buff, however, you are so wrong about Roman Holiday. This movie is a classic. I recently saw it on the big screen for the millionth time and it was amazing. How can you not love Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn?! His voice alone is worth a listen! And the old scenes of Rome are wonderful. Have to truly disagree about this one. LOVE this movie.

Anyway, thanks again!

SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY movie motivates people to dare to make a decision.

I love this list!! You hit some of my favorite movies. I’ve watched a lot of these but I have a feeling I’ll be rewatching some of them in the coming weeks. Thanks for remind me!

GREAT list, thank you! I’ve seen some Bollywood films and loved them, and would love a best of list of them!

Great site for everything

Great list, guys — you really dug deep. If you love The Sounds of Music, you have to visit Salzburg, where you can see the actual places where they shot many of the scenes, including the palace in the middle of town. You can even stay in the Von Trapps’ house. And I may have missed it in your list, but The Year of Living Dangerously absolutely captures the exotic atmosphere and the beauty of Southeast Asia — the gamelan music stays in your head for days. Also, Gandhi for a virtual trip to India.

Very well collections, Really some of the names are not heard. This type of movies are oxygen for any traveler.

Great list of movie i like slumdog millionaire once upon a time in mexico

Secret Life of Walter Mitty for sure, this movie made me so pumped to travel while ‘into the wild’ made me a little depressed and not wishing to become a mentally ill person who goes eating dead animals and rejecting society

Lovely idea, great movies! Love your blog!

I really love this movies.

Each movie is an exciting adventure, felt from the film, emotions, as well as an impressive moment. Thanks for your collection!

Thank you for your list! Lawrence of Arabia for certain, but almost any film by Werner Herzog, especially Aguirre:The Wrath of God. But I am partial to “art” or “foreign” films over Hollywood.

I loved a movie I watched and I can’t remember the name and I can’t find it. It was about a woman, maybe in her 40’s maybe 50’s that traveled to India to meet up with her husband. Her husband was detained by work and sent his male Indian assistant to meet her. While waiting for her husband to arrive, the assistant showed her the sites of India. A romance developed with the assistant over many days, but never crossed the line. Would love to watch this again….

Maybe you’re thinking of the movie ‘Cairo Time’. It’s set in Egypt, not India, but has the exact plot you’re referring to.

All are attractive and I will watch each movie

I shared the movies I shared. The movie content is very interesting and interesting, I like it very much.

This is also a very good post which I really enjoy reading

For me Motorcycle diaries is best.Thanks for list. I will check other movies too.

Nice list, you got almost all of my favorite travel films! A couple additions I would make are “The Sheltering Sky”, and “Voyager”.

The Painted Veil – gorgeous!

I hope it will be show at CGV

Definitely a great list of movies that gets us thinking about travel. Everest was one that really took our breath away and told an amazing story. In Bruges is still one of my favorite. Thanks for sharing!

Loved the post and the films. I still didn’t see 9 films and already want see. Will try found they for this weekend. But the best is to see Indiana Jones in the list.. it’s my prefer film of life <3

the beauty of this movie list is that this in includes movies in Malayalam, Hindi English and believe me these movies are the very best travel movies I have seen . kudos?

Great Choices !

Always on the lookout for movies to watch on the plane!!! Thanks for the recos!!!!

Great choices for movies

I hate you after watching only 2 of these movies from your list i feel like travelling but unfortunately my my academics. By the way best list of travel movies I have seen on internet. Good going brother. wish to see more content in future.

Mr. Bean’s Holiday. A very ridiculous movie, but the cinematography is amazing, and it’s very inspiring.

Great article and awesome collection of movies. Red balloon is my favorite movie and it’s amazing storey

Film is called Before Midnight. Not after.

Thanks for the correction. I mixed up the Trilogy in my head, thinking “the one after Before Sunset.” – There is Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight.

Great article, many good informations

I love watching movies ahead of travelling and often find them inspirational. For Western Australia I found ‘Rabbitproof Fence’ a very good movie. You’ve chosen some good ones!

Great collection of movies to watch. I absolutely loved The Bucket List. As usual Morgan Freeman was awesome. Great movies about travel and for when traveling.

Can you believe that I never saw Stealing Beauty? Now I am going to have to check it out. I agree with Sideways too. Loved that show. It made me want to drink Pinot Noir.

Wild is a great book and the movie is pretty true to the book. Reece Witherspoon is really good in it. Based on true story of a troubled woman who decides to hike one of Americas longest trails with little money and not enough experience. Humbling and left me feeling the wanderlust pretty hard.

The Bucket List and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty are the best travel movies in my opinion. Iceland is on my travel bucket list, hope I can visit that place.

Best Movie Collection. my favorite movies also include in these. love to see the collection of movies thanks to sharing this information with us.

Nice article! inspiring people for Traveling

Thanks for compiling this list. It’s interesting to know the place where the movie was shot. I absolutely agree on what you said about James Bond movies.

Thanks for the post. Some I have seen and some I haven’t, and looking forward to (Especially ONE WEEK)

I’d like to add LOCAL HERO. There are some melancholic moments in the film accompanied by Mark Knopfler’s beautiful soundtrack. Would make anyone jump off the couch, dump all the COMFORTS OF CITY and visit rural Scotland and walk the beaches and witness the Aurora Borealis. One of my favourites alongwith The Motorcycle Diaries and Into the Wild.

Great choices

Excellent list, but Indiana Jones really is a wonderful trip. Note 1000.

Under a Tuscan sun is my favorite!!!! Been to Tuscany because of that movie!! 🙂 Jotted down a few to watch from your list! Thanks!

thank you guys. Into the wild is my favourite one on the list.

You named quite a few of my favorites but the two I’d like to recommend are Hector and the Pursuit of Happiness starring Simon Pegg, and The Way starring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez.

The Way inspired me to walk the Camino de Santiago which turned into an incredible trip.

Great list of best all time travel movies. I must admit that there are still so many movies I have not yet seen. I need to work on that sooner rather than later!

Great list but would certainly add :

– The way (with Martin Sheen) , very inspiring movie about Camino de Santiago – Motorcycle diaries, simply a great movie about travel and life

Fantastic films, thanks for making this kind of film! Many people should watch it! Thanks for sharing this list.

Wow! This list is great! I will surely add these in my playlist. Hopefully, I will be able to watch most of these travel movies. I plan to travel soon, I’m juts looking for more inspiration and travel tips. Glad I came by your blog!

Whoa! You gave me a completely new set of movies to add to my list here! Into the Wild is one of my favorites and the Everest is a spine-chilling movie. A great list Dave & Deb!

Check out Maindentrip, the story of the youngest girl to sail around the world, Laura Dekker. I think my wife finally believed we could do it if a 13 year old can.

Thanks for the recommendation!

These ultimate travel tips for when they have a desired of lust.

What about “Blue Hawaii” and any of the Jurassic Park videos for Hawaii?

Thank you for your list – I am constantly looking for good travel movies.

Till the date bucket list is one of my favourite movie 🙂 Thank you for the information about other movies too

Thank you for this great list. I see some old favorites on the list but also a number of movies I need to see. I’ve added them my list. You’re right about movies inspiring travel. After seeing, Under the Tuscan Sun, I’ve always wanted to visit Tuscany. I’m finally making it there soon.

What a fantastic list full of excellent movies! There’s no doubt that these titles can help to light the spark of wanderlust in anyone. I was actually lucky enough to stumble upon the making of Ridley Scott’s upcoming Alien Covenant movie in New Zealand’s Milford Sound. I’m very much looking forward to its release so I can see the spectacular panning shots of that breathtaking landscape. Movies are a great medium to translate the beauty of travel.

No way! That is so cool. I’m such a fan of Alien, it would be amazing to see them filming it. I love seeing landscapes of places I’ve been in movies.

Slumdog Millionaire and Secret Life of Walter Mitty are Good Movies

Nice list – a few of my favourites there: Everest, Into The Wild, Slumdog Millionaire, The Bucket List, Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Nothing like a good movie for inspiring travel.

A few others to consider: The Beach, Midnight Express, Kundun, Seven Years in Tibet…

“Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain

Hi, Oh wow I really love this list, seriously is so right! Holidays is another good one that invites you to discover surrey :), I enjoyed so much Amelie, unfortunately I cannot say the same of Paris, Je t’aime, which is other of the “must seen movies”, honestly… overrated… anyways, nice list I really enjoy it.

Great list… something a lot of people leave off the list is Julia and Julia. That movie is HUGE to foodies, chefs, etc… Makes me want to hop on a flight every time I see it! Julia Child was a machine, so glad you guys included that movie on this list!

I am a movie addict person, and I loved to travel. I enjoyed all of these films. Very Inspirational lists. Thank you, Dave, for this excellent Article. Loved it:)

A lots of movies that needed to add here. I watched a few of then not all and find very inspirational and heart touching. Slumdog millionaire is one of my favourite and very heart touching.

I love this list, but I’d add almost any movie filmed in San Francisco, even if they weren’t that good (like “The Wedding Planner” or the “The Rock”). They’d actually have to be filmed there and not just set there, like the last “Godzilla” movie 😉

Thanks for the additions. I loved the wedding planner. Although I just watched it again recently and realized what a schmuck Matthew Macoughnay’s character is. He totally led Jennifer Lopez’s character on and was a jerk to his fiancé. haha. But it’s a good lighthearted romantic comdey. They don’t make enough of those anymore..

I came to this article to ensure you had Romancing the Stone..and you didnt let me down. I used to love that movie growing up. I am totally with you, on thinking about Cartagena as some exotic far away place that I had to visit. I eventually found out the movie wasn’t actually filmed in Cartagena or Colombia because of the dire security situation at that time…but when i finally visited Cartagena, i found it even more magical and exotic than the film…love the film, and love the city even more now.

I am so glad we didn’t let you down! I am also so glad that you felt the same way about Cartagena. I always envision Kathleen Turner saying “come to Cartagena with me” It was such a grand adventure. We need more movies like that!

Cool list! I would add:

– Before Sunrise (Vienna) – Waking Ned Devine (Ireland, though filmed in the Isle of Man) – Lost in Translation (Tokyo)

Great additions. I loved Before Sunrise, I can’t believe I forgot about that one. I saw it in the 90s and then watched the whole trilogy. I haven’t seen Waking Ned Devine, I’m going to check that out and yes, Lost in Translation is a good one for Tokyo. I have to watch that again. I barely remember it, but I do remember loving Bill Murray

Just what I needed, thank you guys. Into the wild is my favourite one on the list.

I don’t think any movie has made us want to travel more than Amelie.

2 Days In Paris, on the other hand, was kind of a turn off.

Amelie celebrated Paris, but 2 Days kinda made fun of it. .-= The Jetpacker´s last blog .. UFO Hotspots — 11 Best Places To See UFOs In The World =-.

I don’t need a movie to inspire me to travel. I always want to travel, but some movies make me want to travel more I guess is how to put it. BTW. I thought Up in the Air stunk and don’t get why it was so popular. I loved In Burges which many people have never seen. Guess I’m just weird. .-= Gwen´s last blog ..Kids Grease Costumes =-.

You’re not weird at all! That is what makes watching movies so great. Everyone has different opinions on them all. We didn’t love Amelie and I have never met another person that didn’t like it. We were more into the quirkiness of Two Days in Paris and nobody liked that one:-)

Great choice, I never really fancied visiting Bruges until watching the hilarious In Bruges (and I agree the film also did Colin Farrell a huge favour). Tuscany is still on my must see list after the gorgeous ‘Stealing Beauty’ and being from the UK, Sideways and Swingers always made me want to go to California.

OK, I obviously need to get myself to the nearest pirated DVD place since I’ve only seen 3 of these movies! Thanks for the advice. .-= Audrey´s last blog ..Couch Surfing with KGB Agents =-.

Fantastic post, though most of these movies I haven’t seen (yet) but Vicky Christina Barcelona has really made me want to see Barcelona. I’m really bad for being easily suggestible when it comes to travel. If a place is featured on a movie or tv have a sudden desire to go there. Like I watch a John Waters movie and I wanna go to Baltimore, or the way Shirley Valentine made me really want to go to Greece. Even places that were never really on my travel to do list, like watching Dexter has made me want to visit Miami (even though most of the show is filmed around LA). .-= Alouise´s last blog ..List 9 – How To Have A Cheesy Time At West Edmonton Mall =-.

Wonderful list! I’ve seen a few of these and just loved them (Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Julie & Julia, In Bruges, Up in the Air, and Romancing the Stone)…..and I still dream of someday going to Cartagena, Columbia because of that movie! There are so many great movies that inspire travel that I’m sure it must have been hard to winnow it down to just eight. The rest of your list I’ll have to add to my Netflix queue! .-= Trisha´s last blog .. PR-Blogger Relations Manifesto =-.

I love that you think of Cartagena because of Romancing the stone. There were so many movies that I had on a list. I could have just listed about 50 and that could have been good enough. Maybe I will do that for a post one day when I am out of ideas:) It was very difficult to narrow it down to eight, we were trying to be a little unique in our choices, but then again, it is hard to be unique when it comes to choosing great travel movies. I guess, it was more of a reminder post. Everyone thinks of the choices like The Beach, The James Bond Movies and the Bourne Movies, but we haven’t thought about Romancing the Stone or Once Upon a Time in Mexico in a while.

Great list! We think movies and books add so much to travel that we brought a bunch with us on our open ended world tour. We’re in France now, so tend to watch French ones here and ones that are family friendly since we travel with a kid. 😉 I think we love the Red Balloon and Chocolate best for France.

Two that really stick out on our trip were Troy ( watched again and again through out Greece while reading Homer, including also while we were in Troy in Turkey) and “The Medici, Godfathers of the Renaissance” a thrilling PBS special series that we watched in Florence before we toured. .-= soultravelers3´s last blog .. Captivating Colliore- France on Bastille Day =-.

Thanks for the additions. I forgot about Chocolate. I loved that movie and Johnny Depp and Juliet Binoche were both so charming. I haven’t seen Red Balloon, I will check it out. It is wonderful to watch movies for inspiration before, after and while you are at that place.

Great choices for movies! Others that come to mind are “Before Sunrise” and “Into the Wild.”

ONE CHEL OF AN ADVENTURE

41 best travel movies: films that inspire wanderlust.

Looking for some awesome travel films to fuel your wanderlust? Check out this list of 41 of my favorite and best travel movies to add to your watch list:

41+ Wanderlust Travel Movies

Eat, Pray, Love

One of my favorite books and movie, Eat, Pray, Love is the ultimate wanderlust/travel to find yourself kind of movie!

Watch on: Amazon , Apple TV , Google Play

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

“When his job along with that of his co-worker are threatened, Walter takes action in the real world embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined.” – IMBd

Into the Wild

“After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.” – IMDb

Photo from IMBd

Midnight in Paris

“This is a romantic comedy set in Paris about a family that goes there because of business, and two young people who are engaged to be married in the fall have experiences there that change their lives. It’s about a young man’s great love for a city, Paris, and the illusion people have that a life different from theirs would be much better.” – Apple TV

“ With the dissolution of her marriage and the death of her mother, Cheryl Strayed has lost all hope. After years of reckless, destructive behavior, she makes a rash decision. With absolutely no experience, driven only by sheer determination, Cheryl hikes more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, alone. WILD powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddens, strengthens, and ultimately heals her.” – Google Play

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“Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a young American backpacker, willing to risk his life for just one thing: the mind-blowing rush he can only get from braving the ultimate adventure. After hearing the improbable tale of a secret island – the perfect beach, unsullied by tourists – Richard sets off on a journey to find paradise on Earth. But Richard soon discovers that what seems like paradise can hide a deadly secret. Now desperate to escape, Richard explores the hidden perils and dark places that lurk just beyond the shores of paradise” – Apple TV

Photo from IMDb

The Darjeeling Limited

“A year after their father’s death, three American brothers who haven’t spoken since the funeral embark on a soul-searching journey across India. Their “spiritual quest”, however, veers rapidly off-course and a new, unplanned journey suddenly begins.” – Google Play

“180° South: Conquerors of the Useless follows Jeff Johnson as he retraces the epic 1968 journey of his heroes Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia. Along the way he gets shipwrecked off Easter Island, surfs the longest wave of his life – and prepares himself for a rare ascent of Cerro Corcovado. Jeff’s life turns when he meets up in a rainy hut with Chouinard and Tompkins who, once driven purely by a love of climbing and surfing, now value above all the experience of raw nature – and have come to Patagonia to spend their fortunes to protect it.” – Google Play

“Embark on the adventure of a lifetime in this visual masterpiece from Oscar winner Ang Lee*, based on the best-selling novel. After a cataclysmic shipwreck, an Indian boy named Pi finds himself stranded on a lifeboat with a ferocious Bengal tiger. Together, they face nature’s majestic grandeur and fury on an epic journey of discovery.” – Google Play

Life in a Day

“Life In A Day is a historic film capturing for future generations what it was like to be alive on the 24th of July, 2010. Executive produced by Ridley Scott and directed by Kevin Macdonald.” – on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Lost in Translation

“Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson star in this flat-out hilarious film about two Americans who develop a surprising friendship while venturing through Tokyo.” – Google Play

Maybe not a movie you’d normally find on a list of best travel movies, but I love Up! “Carl Fredrickson, a retired balloon salesman, is part rascal, part dreamer who is ready for his last chance at high-flying excitement. Tying thousands of balloons to his house, Carl sets off to the lost world of his childhood dreams. Unbeknownst to Carl, Russell, an overeager 8-year old Wildnerness Explorer who has never ventured beyond his backyard, is in the wrong place at the wrong time — Carl’s front porch! The world’s most unlikely duo reach new heights and meets fantastic friends like Dug, a dog with a special collar that allows him to speak, and Kevin, the rare 13-foot tall flightless bird. Stuck together in the wilds of the jungle, Carl realizes that sometimes life’s biggest adventures aren’t the ones you set out for.” – Google Play

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Up in the Air

“Ryan Bingham (Academy Award® winner, George Clooney) is truly living the high life. Flying all over the world on business, he never stops moving…until he meets Alex, a fellow passenger and learns that life isn’t about the journey, but the connections we make along the way.” – iTunes

Out of Africa

“Hoping to forge a better life, Denmark native Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) enters into a marriage of convenience with a womanizing baron. But when the couple moves to Nairobi, Karen falls in love with a free-spirited hunter (Robert Redford) who can’t be tied down. Director Sydney Pollack’s lush period drama earned seven Academy Awards, including statues for Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography.” – Google Play

Roman Holiday

“Roman Holiday was nominated for ten Academy Awards®, and Audrey Hepburn captured an Oscar® for her portrayal of a modern-day princess rebelling against her royal obligations who explores Rome on her own. She meets Gregory Peck, an American newspaperman who, seeking an exclusive story, pretends ignorance of her true identity. But his plan falters as they fall in love. Eddie Albert contributes to the fun as Peck’s carefree cameraman pal.” – Google Play

Watch on: Sony Crackle (free) , Apple TV , Google Play

“From the producers of THE KING’S SPEECH comes this remarkable true story of Robyn Davidson, a young woman who leaves her urban life to trek through almost 2,000 miles of sprawling Australian desert . Along her journey of self-discovery, she meets National Geographic photographer Rick Smolan, who begins to photograph her life-changing voyage.” – Apple TV

Under the Tuscan Sun

“UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN follows San Francisco writer Frances Mayes (Diane Lane) to Italy as a good friend offers her a special gift — 10 days in Tuscany. Once there, she is captivated by its beauty and warmth, and impulsively buys an aging, but very charming, villa. Fully embracing new friends and local color, she finds herself immersed in a life-changing adventure filled with enough unexpected surprises, laughter, friendship, and romance to restore her new home — and her belief in second chances.” – Google Play

Before Sunrise

“Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy star as two young people who meet–and whose lives are forever changed–on a train from Budapest to Paris. They may have only one night, but when soul mates find each other, anything can happen Before Sunrise.” – iTunes

The Endless Summer

“They call it The Endless Summer, the ultimate surfing adventure, crossing the globe in search of the perfect wave. From the uncharted waters of West Africa, to the shark-filled seas of Australia , to the tropical paradise of Tahiti and beyond, two California surfers, Robert August and Mike Hynson, accomplish in a few months what most people never get to do in a lifetime – they live their dream.” – iTunes

Watch on: Amazon , Apple TV

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

“Two young American women, Vicky and Cristina come to Barcelona for a summer holiday. Vicky is sensible and engaged to be married; Cristina is emotionally and sexually adventurous.  In Barcelona, they’re drawn into a series of unconventional romantic entanglements with Juan Antonio, a charismatic painter, who is still involved with his tempestuous ex-wife Maria Elena. Set against the luscious Mediterranean sensuality of Barcelona, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA is Woody Allen’s funny and open-minded celebration of love in all its configurations.” – Google Play

Two For the Road

“ On their third identical voyage from London to the French Riviera , Joanna Wallace (Audrey Hepburn) and husband Mark (Albert Finney) explore their 12-year marriage in a series of wry and illuminating flashbacks. They reminisce about the glorious beginning of their love affair, the early years of marriage and the events that led to their subsequent infidelities. As they try to understand their relationship, they must accept how they have changed if they are to rekindle their original love… The film is arguably one of the most stylistically influential movies from the ’60s.”

“From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.” – Disney

Watch on: Amazon , Apple TV , Google Play , or on Disney+

“John Krasinski (The Office) and Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live) star in the heartfelt film that explores the comedic twists and turns in one couple’s journey across contemporary America. Anticipating the birth of their first child, longtime couple Burt and Verona embark on an ambitious itinerary to visit friends and family in order to find their perfect home.” – Universal Studios

The Bucket List

 Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman star in the comedic drama The Bucket List, a touching, no- holds-barred adventure that shows it’s never too late to live life to its fullest. “Two terminally ill men escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die.” – IMDb

“A five-year-old Indian boy is adopted by an Australian couple after getting lost hundreds of kilometers from home. 25 years later, he sets out to find his lost family.” – IMDb

Crazy Rich Asians

“This contemporary romantic comedy, based on a global bestseller, follows native New Yorker Rachel Chu to Singapore to meet her boyfriend’s family.” – IMDb

This is another movie that is not necessarily about travel, but after watching it, Singapore jumped to the top of my bucket list so I had to add it to this Best Travel Movie list!

Watch on: Amazon ,   Google Play , Hulu

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The Motorcycle Diaries

“Based on a true life story, The Motorcycle Diaries is an inspiring and thrilling adventure that traces the youthful origins of a revolutionary spirit. The film follows two daring friends, Ernesto “Che” Guevara (Gael Garcia Bernal, Y Tu Mama Tambien) and Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna), who hop on the back of a beat-up motorcycle for a breathtaking and exciting road trip across Latin America.” – Google Play

Letters to Juliet

“In Verona, Italy – the beautiful city where Romeo first met Juliet – there is a place where the heartbroken leave notes asking Juliet for her help. It’s there that aspiring writer Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) finds a 50-year-old letter that will change her life forever. As she sets off on a romantic journey of the heart with the letter’s author, Claire (Vanessa Redgrave), now a grandmother, and her handsome grandson (Christopher Egan), all three will discover that sometimes the greatest love story ever told is your own.” – Google Play

The Art of Travel

“Conner Layne  is about to embark on an adventure – just not the one he had planned. After discovering his fiance is having an affair with his best friend, he leaves her at the altar and heads off on his honeymoon alone. 

While experiencing the wonders that South America offers, he meets a friendly couple – Darlene and her husband, Christopher, who are planning a dangerous trip across the Darien Gap. Along with a ragtag group of foreigners, they venture on a 100-mile long journey through the undeveloped jungle that separates Panama and Columbia. Ready to leave his past behind, Conner joins the unknown for the quest of a lifetime.” – Apple TV

Rio + Rio 2

Laugh if you want, but after seeing this movie in theaters, I have been dying to go to Rio adn explore South America! 

Hector and The Search for Happiness

“Hector is a quirky psychiatrist who has become tired of his humdrum life, yet he’s offering advice to patients who are just not getting happier. So he embarks on a global quest in hopes of uncovering the elusive secret formula for true happiness.”

Couples Retreat

Couples Retreat is another romantic comedy movie that’s set in such a beautiful place, I just had to include it!

A Map for Saturday

“On a trip around the world, every day feels like Saturday. A MAP FOR SATURDAY reveals a world of long-term, solo travel through the stories of trekkers on four continents. The documentary finds backpackers helping neglected Thai tsunami victims. It explains why Nepal’s guesthouses are empty and Brazil’s stoplights are ignored. But at its core, SATURDAY tracks the emotional arc of extreme long-term travelers; teenagers and senior citizens who wondered, “What would it be like to travel the world?” Then did it.”

Watch on: Amazon

“Through the open country and desert lands, two bikers head from L.A to New Orleans , and along the way, meet a man who bridges a counter-culture gap they are unaware of.” – IMDb

“ONE WEEK tells the story of 20-something Ben Tyler (Joshua Jackson), who flees from an impending marriage, a ho-hum job, and a recent diagnosis in an attempt to live life to the fullest. His misguided road trip on a vintage motorcycle becomes an adventure of self-discovery set against the great Canadian landscape.”

Encounters at the End of the World

“Welcome to Antarctica – like you’ve never experienced it. You’ve seen the extraordinary marine life, the retreating glaciers and, of course, the penguins, but leave it to award-winning, iconoclastic filmmaker Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man, Rescue Dawn) to be the first to explore the South Pole’s most fascinating inhabitants…humans. In this one-of-kind documentary, Herzog turns his camera on a group of remarkable individuals, “professional dreamers” who work, play and struggle to survive in a harsh landscape of mesmerizing, otherworldly beauty – perhaps the last frontier on earth.”

“A powerful and inspirational story about family, friends, and the challenges we face. Martin Sheen plays Tom, an irascible American doctor who comes to France to collect the remains of his adult son (played by Emilio Estevez), killed in the Pyrenees while walking The Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of Saint James. Rather than return home, Tom decides to embark on the historical pilgrimage to honor his son’s desire to finish the journey. What Tom doesn’t plan on, is the profound impact the journey will have on him. Inexperienced as a trekker, Tom soon discovers that he will not be alone on this journey.”

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

“An award-winning, all-star cast, led by Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith and Tom Wilkinson, lights up this “buoyant comedy laced with genuine emotion”. When seven cash-strapped seniors decide to “outsource” their retirement to a resort in far-off India, friendship and romance blossom in the most unexpected ways. Smart, life-affirming and genuinely charming, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a “true classic that reminds us that it’s never too late to find love and a fresh beginning at any age”.”

The Tourist

“Frank (Johnny Depp), a mild-mannered American on vacation in Venice, Italy, is befriended by Elise (Angelina Jolie), a breathtakingly beautiful woman with a mysterious secret. Soon, their playful romantic dalliance turns into a complicated web of dangerous deceit as they are chased by Interpol, the Italian police, and Russian hit men in this suspense-filled, international action thriller.”

The Grand Budapest Hotel

“THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of legendary concierge Gustave H. and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft of a priceless painting; a raging battle for an enormous family fortune; and a desperate chase on motorcycles, trains, sleds, and skis – all against the back-drop of a suddenly and dramatically changing continent.”

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

“Resplendent in flamboyant ballgowns, looking down over the vast red Australian desert : for three showgirls it was the dream of a lifetime, a four week cabaret engagement in Alice Springs. The problem is simply getting there intact, along with their bus Priscilla.”

Phew! There ya go, my list of the 41 best travel movies to fuel your wanderlust! Any ones I missed?  Drop a comment below or  DM me on Instagram !

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25 Of The Best Travel Movies To Ignite Your Wanderlust

Looking for some great travel movies? We share some of our favorite adventure films.

Any list of the top travel movies is going to be a bit controversial. After all, opinions about what make the best travel movies are as diverse as the people watching.

However, there are some wanderlust movies that are so iconic that it’s hard to argue about their inclusion on our list.

The Best Travel Movies

Each of these movies is on our list for a different reason. Some bring back memories of carefree summer vacations, while others have characters that visit remote and undiscovered lands. Some of these movies are all about adventure, while others are more introspective, and about the inner journey. Still, others show off the filmmaker’s video editing capabilities, and their gorgeous cinematography.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty stars Ben Stiller as Walter. He spends his days daydreaming about an exciting existence, but spends day-after-day developing photos for Life magazine. His life turns around when he takes the chance to travel the world to find the perfect photo for the magazine’s final print issue.

It’s a funny and inspiring adventure movie, full of gorgeous scenery and grand adventures.

Where to watch. Stream: HBO Now, HBO Max. Buy or rent: YouTube, iTunes.

Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)

Equally touching and funny, Hector and the Search for Happiness stars Simon Pegg as a middle aged psychiatrist who travels the world in his search for happiness.

One NSFW word of caution: You may find yourself saying: “ I want happiness ” in an over-the-top French accent over and over.

Where to watch. Stream: Amazon Prime . Buy or rent: Amazon , YouTube, iTunes.

Lost in Translation (2003)

Lost in Translation is a movie that I’ve watched over and over. It perfectly captures that sense of disconnect that I feel when I first visit a new destination where the language and customs are so different from my own.

Starring Bill Murray and a young Scarlett Johansson, Lost in Translation was directed by Sofia Coppola. The movie follows the relationship of an aging movie star (Murray) and a lonely, adrift young woman (Johansson) against the backdrop of Tokyo, Japan.

Where to watch. Stream: Crave, Starz. Rent or Buy: Amazon , YouTube.

Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

Starring Diane Lane, Under the Tuscan Sun tells the story of a midlife woman who finds romance and a new purpose while renovating a run-town Italian villa. It’s equal parts romance, self discovery, wonderful food, and views of the stunning Tuscan landscape.

Where to watch. Stream: Amazon Prime Video . Rent or buy: Amazon , YouTube, Microsoft

Eat, Pray, Love (2010)

Based on the bestselling book by novelist Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love follows Gilbert’s (Julia Roberts) journey of self discovery as she travels the globe.

Where to watch. Stream on Starz. Rent or buy on Amazon , YouTube, Microsoft .

In Bruges (2008)

Love it or hate it, the movie In Bruges captures the charms of Bruges, Belgium perfectly. It’s a grittier choice than many of the movies on this list as it follows the adventures of hit men Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) as they await new orders in Bruges however you can’t fault the Belgium ambience.

Where to watch. Stream on AMC+. Rent or buy: YouTube, Google, iTunes, Amazon.

Wild (2014)

Based on the real-live adventure of author Cheryl Strayed, Wild stars Reese Witherspoon. An inexperienced hiker, Strayed decided to walk the challenging Pacific Crest Trail to face her inner demons, and comes to the end of the hike with a newfound clarity about her life.

Where to watch. Stream: Disney+. Rent or buy: iTunes

Into the Wild (2007)

Into the Wild is a real-life true story of the journey of Christopher McCandless, who disappeared while exploring the wilderness in Alaska.

Because of the sad ending, I resisted seeing this for a couple of years, thinking it would be a sad movie to watch. Surprisingly, I found Christopher’s journey to be inspiring and uplifting. The scenery is gorgeous as well.

Where to watch. Rent or Buy: iTunes, YouTube, Amazon.

The Way (2010)

I’ve always wanted to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain. This movie stars Martin Sheen, who undertakes the walk as a pilgrimage of sorts to his recently deceased son. It’s a sad premise, but the movie is ultimately a perfect showcase for the gorgeous Camino de Santiago journey.

Where to watch. Stream: Amazon Prime . Rent of Buy: YouTube, Amazon, iTunes.

Tracks (2014)

Tracks tells the real life story of Robyn Davidson, who spent nine months trekking across the Australian desert on camels. Starring Mia Wasikowska and Adam Driver, the movie is an inspiration for solo travelers in challenging terrain.

Where to watch. Stream: Amazon Prime . Rent or buy: YouTube, Cineplex.

Before Sunrise (1995) – Before Sunset (2004) – Before Midnight (2013)

I’ll watch anything starring the talented Ethan Hawke. That said, these movies hold their own as is.

I watched these out of order, seeing Before Sunset before the original, Before Sunrise. I think it was a mistake as the original was my favorite. The movie stars a very young Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy flirting and talking philosophy among the charming streets of Vienna, Austria after hours.

There’s a lot of dialogue and relationship talk here, so this might not be the trilogy for you if you’re craving action and excitement.

Where to watch. Stream: Hoopla. Rent or buy: Amazon , YouTube, iTunes.

Out of Africa (1985)

Starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, Out of Africa is one of those iconic travel movies. The scenery is stunning, and Streep’s performance is wonderful. The movie itself won best picture and best cinematography the year it was relieased. The movie tells of the story of Danish author Karen Blixen, who moved to Africa to build a new life for herself.

Where to watch. Rent or buy: Amazon , YouTube, iTunes.

The Beach (2000)

Based on Alex Garland’s book of the same name, this movie tells the story of twenty-something Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio), who is in search of a lost paradise away from the backpacker trail. He finds a strange map, and makes his way to a hidden island.

The Beach was filmed on Maya Beach on Thailand’s Koh Phi Phi Le (or Ko Phi Phi Leh). After the film came out, the beach was overrun by visitors.

When we visited in 2003, once pristine Maya Bay was still beautiful, but covered in a film of oil from boats ferrying visitors like us to the island. It’s since been closed to allow it to recover, and is open in a limited capacity.

Where to watch. Stream on Disney+. Rent or buy: Amazon , YouTube, iTunes.

Roman Holiday (1953)

Starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Pick, this black-and-white classic is set in Rome. It’s a fun, quirky, love story where a princess (Hepburn) meets a reporter (Peck), and they spend a day exploring 1950’s Rome.

Where to watch. Rent or buy: Amazon , YouTube, iTunes, Microsoft Store.

Up in the Air (2009)

If you love airports and flying, then this is the movie for you. There’s not a lot of great scenery here, or adventures across the country though. It stars George Clooney as Ryan, who travels the USA firing people for other companies. He’s about to reach his life’s goal of a million frequent flyer miles, when technology threatens to make his travels obsolete.

Where to watch. Stream: FuboTV. Rent or Buy: Amazon , YouTube, iTunes, Microsoft Store.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)

A handful of older Brits decide to retire in the Marigold Hotel in Jaipur, India, rather than in sterile retirement homes back in the UK.

There’s a great cast with Judi Dench, Celia Imrie, and Bill Nighy, who struggle with day-to-day life in India.

Where to watch. Stream: Roku. Rent or Buy: Amazon , YouTube, iTunes, Microsoft Store.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Starring a young Peter O’Toole, this epic historical drama based on the life of T. E. Lawrence, follows the plight of a British soldier who unites nomadic Arabian tribes to band against the Turks in the first World War. Set against the backdrop of the Arabian Desert, it’s a beautifully shot film and is often considered one of the best movies of all time. Whether you agree with the premise though is up to you.

Where to watch. Stream: Amazon Video . Rent or Buy: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

The Best Road Trip Movies

The road trip is gold for adventure, fun, and great scenery. These flicks run the gamut from funny road trip movies to more serious explorations of culture and living conditions on the road.

Sideways (2004)

If you’re a fan of California wine country, this is the travel movie for you. It’s the story of two middle aged men on a road trip through wine country.

Where to watch. Stream on Disney+, Crave, Starz. Rent or Buy: Amazon, YouTube, iTunes, Microsoft Store.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)

Starring John Candy and Steve Martin, this is one of the all time classic road trip comedy movies. Trying to get home during a freak snowstorm, control freak Neil Page (Martin), keeps encountering bumbling and talkative Del (Candy). Out of necessity, the two pair up to try to get home on a cross country road trip from New York to Chicago.

I’ve watched this with the kids (beware the R rating if you have little kids), and they thought it was hilarious. Our favorite quote: “Those aren’t pillows!”

Eurotrip (2004)

Definitely the raunchiest of the movies on this list, the R rated Eurotrip is still one of our favorite travel movies. Crossing 8 countries while trying to get the girl of his dreams, a group of friends travel Europe together one summer vacation and fall into one funnier predicament after another. It’s light and fun however there are some iconic shots across Europe in there as well as a few places you likely won’t find on the beaten path. Also one of the most wrong and catchy (and funny once you’ve watched the movie) songs you’ll ever hear in a movie (Scotty doesn’t know.)

Where to watch. Rent or Buy: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)

One of the best movies about family vacations , this 1980s classic starts Chevy Chase as bumbling, but well-meaning Clark Griswold. It’s an over-the-top spoof of the classic American road trip, that incidentally takes them through the Grand Canyon and Death Valley.

Somehow, this movie always inspires me check my road trip packing list , grab a list of the best family audiobooks for road trips , and get on the road.

Where to watch. Stream: Starz, Crave. Rent or Buy: Amazon , YouTube, iTunes, Microsoft Store.

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

The Motorcycle Diaries is based on the journals of Che Guevara, leader of the Cuban Revolution. Starring Gael García Bernal, the movie shows Che and his pal Alberto Granado on a road trip from the Andes to Machu Picchu and other South American Landmarks.

Where to watch. Rent or Buy: Amazon , YouTube, iTunes, Microsoft Store.

Best Travel Movies on Netflix

Choosing the best travel movies on Netflix can be a bit tricky, since Netflix is constantly changing the movies in their catalogue and they can vary from country to country. That said, here are our picks for the best travel movies on Netflix right now.

Seven Years in Tibet (1997)

Brad Pitt is the lead in this epic film based on a true story. Pitt plays egocentric Austrian mountain climber, Heinrich Harrer, who escapes from a WWII prisoner of war camp in India. He makes his way to refuge in the sacred land of Tibet, where he meets the young Dalai Lama.

Where to watch. Stream: Netflix.

Holiday in the Wild (2019)

Ok, I’m fully aware of the incongruity of putting a fun, escapist movie like Holiday in the Wild directly after a classic like Seven Years in Tibet. That said, Holiday in the Wild is both a fun movie, and chock full of absolutely stunning images of South Africa and Zambia landscapes and wildlife.

The movie stars Rob Lowe and Kristin Davis (who played Charlotte York Goldenblatt in Sex in the City). Davis plays a woman who is Jilted by her husband on the eve of embarking on an African safari. She chooses to travel to Africa alone, where she meets Lowe, who plays an elephant conservationist.

IMDB rating: 6.1

Wine Country (2019)

Another lighthearted romp, Wine Country is produced and directed by Amy Poehler, with a great cast that includes Poehler herself, Maya Rudolph,  Kristen Wiig, and Melissa McCarthy.

It’s set in a girls-only vacation to Napa Valley, where a group of longtime friends reunite and revisit past choices.

Other articles you might like:

• The Best Travel Vloggers on YouTube in 2021
• The Best Songs about Adventure and Travel
• 25+ Best Travel Memories Quotes to Inspire Your Wanderlust
• Five Interesting and Offbeat Travel TV Shows
• Our Favorite Travel TV Shows

Want to see all of the trailers in one place?

Watching trailers for movies is one of my favorite things in the world. Check out our YouTube playlist with trailers for all of the top travel movies here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsfDUGOZ3UU8OxFOY5kxwxe374BOi_uoF

Do you have any personal picks for the best travel movies that we’ve forgotten? Share them in the comments!

Seven years in Tibet is one of my most favorite travel movies. Even the book is so hypnotizing.

These look like some classics. I’d have nothing to add. Nothing like a good travel movie to motivate one to hit the road.

Wow! What a fantastic list of travel movies! As an avid traveler, I’m always on the lookout for inspiring films that ignite my wanderlust, and this compilation delivers perfectly. It’s refreshing to see a mix of well-known classics and hidden gems, ensuring there’s something for everyone’s taste. I appreciate the brief descriptions provided, giving just enough insight without spoiling the magic. This list has definitely added a few titles to my must-watch list! Thank you for sharing such a captivating collection, it will surely keep me entertained on my upcoming adventures. Cheers! Gary Ford

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The Best Travel Movies On Netflix Right Now

Last Updated: March 12th, 2020

Movies are a big part of our daily lives. They make us laugh, they make us cry, and — for many of us — they make us want to travel . That’s why we put together a list of our favorite travel-themed movies on Netflix right now.

It should go without saying, this list will constantly be evolving as Netflix rotates its library and new movies arrive. In the streaming wars, as in travel, there’s no time like the present. So grab some popcorn and get cozy, then let these travel movies inspire your next grand adventure.

Ibiza (2018)

Run Time: 94 min | IMDb: 5.2/10

What Is It: Getting to travel for work feels like a luxury. Getting to hang in Ibiza with a star DJ and have a spontaneous time-of-your-life moment while traveling feels like something that only happens in movies. Maybe. But you’ll never know if it’s real unless you go out and look for these adventures yourself and that’s where Ibiza gets you.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: Sometimes you just have to go out there and live that life and see what happens. You’re never going to know what’s out there unless you go see for yourself.

Wine Country (2019)

Run Time: 103 min | IMDb: 5.4/10

What Is It: Amy Poehler rounds up some of her funniest pals from Saturday Night Live for this boozy comedy about a girls’ trip to Napa Valley. The film is packed with comedy legends like Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, Paula Pell, Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer, and Emily Spivey, and it marks Poehler’s directing debut.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: It’s an ode to female friendships and how they change as we age — think Bridesmaids but with more wine and some scenic views of idyllic Napa wine country. If these amazing vistas of vineyards don’t stoke a desire to get to California ASAP, nothing will.

Murder Mystery (2019)

Run Time: 97 min | IMDb: 6/10

What Is It: Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler reunite for this whodunnit with a slapstick comedy twist. The film follows Audrey and Nick Spitz, a married couple from Brooklyn celebrating their honeymoon 15 years late. They meet a dashing stranger on their plane to Europe (played by Luke Evans) who invites them to vacation aboard his yacht where a shocking murder puts them in the spotlight. As they use Nick’s detective skills and Audrey’s love of true crime to solve the case and clear their own names, more suspects pop up, and more laughs are had.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: We don’t want to say that movie posits you should never accept invitations to party on a yacht in the South of France. But keep your wits about you if you do find yourself in that situation.

Like Father (2018)

Run Time: 109 min | IMDb: 6.1/10

What Is It: Kristen Bell in anything is guaranteed to be funny, but this father-daughter comedy looks especially rife with humor. Bell plays a workaholic jilted at the altar who decides to salvage something from her relationship when she heads out on her honeymoon cruise … with her estranged father. Kelsey Grammer stars as her deadbeat dad and the two try to reconnect over tropical expeditions, ziplining, and plenty of seafaring.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: There are a lot of lessons to be drawn from a light comedy about people reconnecting while living in a confined space. Travel companionship is never a black-or-white prospect and sometimes the best travel buddy is the person you’d least expect.

David Brent: Life on the Road (2016)

Run Time: 96 min | IMDb: 6.3/10

What Is It: The Brentmaster General is back and as awkward as ever. This time, David Brent ( Ricky Gervais ) is on a music tour — funding the trip out of his own pocket, renting a bus completely unnecessarily, and making college kids cringe like crazy.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: This one of the best examples of people traveling together that really, truly don’t understand or even like each other. And, whether we like it or not, that’ll eventually happen to all of us at some point. At least with Ricky Gervais steering the action, there’ll be more laughs than tears. Just barely.

Mississippi Grind (2015)

Run Time: 108 min | IMDb: 6.4/10

What Is It: Ryan Reynolds and Ben Mendelsohn star in this road trip drama about a pair of down-on-their-luck gamblers making their way to New Orleans . Reynolds plays Curtis, the younger of the two who’s developed a system to manage his gambling habits. The key, Curtis says, is to not care about winning. Gerry (Mendelsohn) on the other hand is deep into his addiction, out of money, and unable to quit. The two team up, traveling down the Mississippi river, betting all they have on horse races and roulette tables before their wild ways catch up with them.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: It’s a film steeped in the American South’s blue-collar world. There’s plenty to admire about the scenery, but it’s also a film that does a decent job of tackling addiction without making it feel trite or heavy-handed. In the end, this is about two people on a mission and knowing when to let each other go.

Kodachrome (2018)

Run Time: 105 min | IMDb: 6.8/10

What Is It: Jason Sudeikis , Ed Harris, and Elizabeth Olsen star in this Midwestern road-trip drama about an estranged father-son duo trying to reconnect. Harris plays a famous travel photographer intent on developing the rest of his unused film and the only Kodachrome photo lab in Kansas before it closes. Sudeikis and Olsen are dragged along, and along with some stunning vignettes of small-town America, we’re treated to a beautiful portrait of a father-son relationship.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: This movie treats the idea of someone being the proverbial “third-wheel” to a traveling duo aptly. Each character feels like that third-wheel at some point along the journey, which perfectly mirrors reality when you’re traveling with two or more people.

Slow West (2015)

Run Time: 84 min | IMDb: 6.9/10

What Is It: Kodi Smit-McPhee plays a young Scottish man who travels from his home country to the dry, bleeding heart of the American West to find the woman he loves. Along the way, he meets a band of outlaws looking to collect the bounty on his intended’s head and a thuggish, slow-drawling Michael Fassbender who acts as his reluctant chaperone. It’s a fun, inventive take on the classic Western adventure, and it doesn’t hurt that the cinematography is gorgeous.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: How far will you go for love is a question as old as story-telling itself. In this case, our hero leaves the wind-whipped coasts of Scotland and trudges to America. Have you ever given up everything and hit the great unknown for your love? This movie may well inspire you to.

Kon-Tiki (2012)

Run Time: 118 min | IMDb: 7.2/10

What Is It: Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-tiki Expedition is the travel-history of legends. Back in 1947, the intrepid Norwegian set out to prove that pre-Columbian American cultures had the means and wherewithal to cross the oceans. Heyerdahl’s work was instrumental in moving European anthropology away from the inept “savage” view of Indigenous people and recentering the idea of human migration.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: At its heart, this film is about the mad ones . The film follows the trials and tribulations of six crew members as they sail the Pacific on a small, reed craft with a single sail. Kon-Tiki offers a glimpse into how hard travel used to be and what we can overcome out there.

The Fundamentals Of Caring (2016)

Run Time: 97 min | IMDb: 7.3/10

What Is It: Paul Rudd is at his most charming and charismatic here. He plays a newly trained caregiver to a distant teenager with muscular dystrophy named Trevor. After some icebreaking, the two set out on a trip to see some of the most boring roadside attractions middle America has to offer. If you’re feeling down, this one will pick you up.

Plus… it’s Paul Rudd. That dude is always a ray of sunshine.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: There’s a classic appeal to a mismatched pair of people traveling along the American road. It helps when the trip isn’t grandiose or the soul purpose of the trip. Sometimes, the trip is the time you spend getting to know who you’re moving with. Everything else is just the icing on the cake.

Babel (2006)

Run Time: 143 min | IMDb: 7.4/10

What Is It: Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt star in this drama about a vacationing couple whose romantic trip to Morocco is cut short by tragedy. Blanchett plays Susan, Pitt her husband, Richard. When Susan becomes the victim of an accidental shooting while touring the country, their plans go awry and their story collides with three other families, all impacted by the event in one way or another.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: Alejandro González Iñárritu weaves these tales together, skipping from the deserts of Morocco to the bustling nightlife of Tokyo to the vibrant, colorful backdrop of the Mexican desert in a non-linear fashion that gives the film an added sense of urgency. Each place draws you in and asks you, ‘why aren’t you having this experience?’

Y Tu Mama También (2002)

Run Time: 106 min, IMDb: 7.6/10

What Is It: After a stint in Hollywood, Alfonso Cuarón returned to Mexico for this story of two privileged high school boys (Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal) who road trip with an older woman (Maribel Verdú) in search of an unspoiled stretch of beach. In the process, they discover freedom as they’d never imagined — and maybe more freedom than they can handle.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: Cuarón’s stylish film plays out against the backdrop of Mexican political upheaval and plays with notions of upturning the established order on scales both large and small, all the while suggesting that no paradise lasts forever. Those are universal travel themes if ever we’ve heard them.

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Run Time: 153 min | IMDb: 8.3/10

What Is It: Tarantino often goes deep on a single location. Pulp Fiction , Reservoir Dogs , Jackie Brown , and Once Upon A Time … In Hollywood are all odes to a single place, Los Angeles. But when QT does hit the road, it’s often a treat for the sense. In his 2009 a-historical WWII B-movie, Inglourious Basterds, Tarantino takes us on a trip around Europe with titular Basterds. We maraud with them as they make their way from England, to the Belgian lowlands, through France, and into Paris.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: Travel isn’t always about self-fulfillment and relaxation. A lot of folks’ first travel experience before 1950 was via war. Still, there’s a sense of wonder to this movie that transcends any reason to travel and speaks to a universal truth of a group of people finding their way through places they don’t quite understand.

Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Run Time: 115 min | IMDb: 8.4/10

What Is It: As far as travel and adventure go, Raiders of the Lost Ark , has everything you could possibly want. A hero with a love for archeology and whips? Check. An adventure to recover a stolen artifact with destructive powers? Check, check. Harrison Ford beating up Nazis with sarcastic one-liners and a knowing twinkle in his eye? Did movies even exist before this?

Why It’s Great For Travelers: It could be argued that this movie inspired a generation of Gen X travelers to hit the road. The movie bleeds the sense of adventure and zest for life that we all wish we could have had on the open road. Raider’s promises glory and thrilling exploits exist out there and we want that to be true deep in our bones.

Snowpiercer (2013)

Run Time: 126 min | IMDb: 7.1/10

What Is It: Bong Joon Ho was on film lover’s minds for years before he became a household name with his Oscar-winning masterpiece Parasite . Bong’s 2013 sci-fi turn with Captain America Chris Evans is a dystopian train journey in a post-climate-change afflicted world. The world is iced over, people are surviving by speeding around the globe on a train, and the working class has had enough. Though you may have to suspend your disbelief that survivors who lived by cannibalizing infants would revolt over being fed insect protein, this movie still holds up as a spell-binding, action-packed whirlwind.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: The sense of non-stop movement in this film draws you in. You’ll be longing to hit the Trans-Siberian, jump on the Empire Builder across America, or buy that Rail Pass for Europe next summer. Hopefully, battling 1984 -esque guards and Tilda Swinton will not be a part of those train journies though.

Batman Begins (2005)

Run Time: 140 min | IMDb: 8.2/10

What Is It: The fourth reboot of the Batman franchise was helmed by Christopher Nolan when we still had something to prove to the world. The film follows a young Bruce Wayne as he spends the first half of the film wandering around the world looking for a purpose in life. He finally ends up in a Himalayan prison camp where he’s rescued by a mysterious group of psychonaut militant ninjas who help birth The Batman .

Why It’s Great For Travelers: The desire to find yourself on the open road is a universal one, especially when you’re in your late teens and twenties. Bruce Wayne’s down-and-dirty vagabond journies where he’s barely scraping by are the stuff of backpacking legend and inspiration enough to go out there and find a little truth. You may not come home Batman, but you may come home a more complete you.

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

Run Time: 111 min | IMDb: 8.1/10

What Is It: Tarantino has a knack for globetrotting. The first half of Kill Bill finds the vengeful Bride bouncing from Texas’ high deserts to Southern California suburbia to the mean streets of Tokyo. Each of these locations has a unique and highly stylized nature that begs you to step into the location.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: When the Bride walks into an Okinawa sushi house, you want to be sitting there too. For a brief moment, you think you too can wear a leather jumpsuit and ride a motorcycle around Tokyo at night. And, you know what? Why not? Go! Do exactly that. Maybe leave the katana at home though. They’re not really going to let you carry it on the plane (no matter how cool it makes you look).

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

Run Time: 139 min | IMDb: 7.9/10

What Is It: Patricia Highsmith’s ability to weave noirish tales around mid-20th century travelers is legendary. The atmosphere of 1950s Italy is so intact and somehow universal in this film that you can almost feel the heat of the sun and the taste of the bitters in the cocktails. The intrigue of a young Matt Damon going full psychopath on an unsuspecting Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow is a masterclass in creepiness (why doesn’t Damon play more villains?). Plus, there are wonderful Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Cate Blanchett performances here too. Taking a step back, this cast is phenomenal and worth the two hours alone.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: Do you become someone else when you’re no longer home? Maybe you do become someone else when you’re on the road? Maybe you don’t. Philosophical questions of self-identity aside, if this movie doesn’t make you book a trip to Italy , nothing will.

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)

Run Time: 88 min | IMDb: 7.1/10

What Is It: There are few things better than a buddy stoner movie. This quest to quell a wicked case of the munchies by stoner pals Harold and Kumar to White Castle for a pile of sliders is a cult classic that still holds up. Plus, the under 90-minute runtime makes this an easy, fun watch — whether you’re stoned or not.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: If you’ve been on the road and you’re inclined to find an epic meal, you know Harold and Kumar’s drive and pain. Granted this is just about traveling across town for a fast-food snack, but there’s something universal about that trek. We travel far and wide for the best taco trucks, burger joints, craft brews, and simple pleasures that, simply, makes us happy, and that’s what this movie captures so perfectly.

Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989)

Run Time: 127 min | IMDb: 8.2/10

What Is It: Yes, we’re putting two Indiana Jones movies on this list. The Last Crusade is the actual sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark ( Temple of Doom is an underrated prequel ). Indy is a little older, he’s traveling with his cantankerous father, and he’s punching Nazis all the way around the world. Hell, even the opening scene with River Phoenix playing a teen-aged Indy has a sense of wanderlust whimsy in Utah’s Arches National Park. And all of that’s before you get to Il Duce’s Venice, Austrian castles, Hitler’s Berlin, and the Middle East’s deserts.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: Nearly one-million people visit Petra in Jordan yearly (where the movie’s climax takes place) many thanks to this movie. And, in true Indiana Jones fashion, traveling is the core of the film. You can go to all of these places right now and relieve your favorite Indiana Jone’s fantasies. Plus, the movie touches on how two distant people can find common ground again while sharing experience on the road.

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35 classic films that will feed your wanderlust and inspire you to travel the world

Hostelworld Blog | Posted on February 21, 2019 |

The best travel films are the ones that make your feet itch and your brain start buzzing with adventure, escape and possibilities. They push you off the sofa and onto a plane because if you’ve seen it happen, you know you can do it too. These are some of the best travel movies that inspire wanderlust, make you dream bigger and chase real-life travel experiences.

35. Eat Pray Love (2010)

A quintessential ‘find yourself’ movie or just another cliché? Whatever you think about Eat Pray Love, no other film promotes a fabulous year of long-term travel like this one.

Voted 5.8/10 on IMDb

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34. National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985)

Authenticity isn’t high on European Vacation’s priorities, but the Griswald family travel to London , Paris and Bavaria in this classic American comedy.

Voted 6.2/10 on IMDb

33. The Inbetweeners 2 (2014)

You can’t think about embarking on a working holiday in Australia without watching the lads travel to all the major backpacking spots in the land down under.

Voted 6.4/10 on IMDb

32. The Hangover Part II (2011)

The Wolfpack rage havoc all over Bangkok during one of their legendary benders and have to make up for all their wrongdoings in time for Stu’s wedding.

Voted 6.5/10 on IMDb

31. The Beach (2000)

Is there a more seminal backpacker film? Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a traveller looking for paradise amongst the islands in Thailand .

Voted 6.6/10 on IMDb

30. Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

Who doesn’t dream of dropping everything to buy a house in Tuscany? Diane Lane’s writer does just that and ends up falling madly in love, and not just with the jaw-dropping countryside.

29. Eurotrip (2004)

It’s like American Pie in Europe , what could be better for a Saturday night movie in? Four American teenagers backpack Europe during the summer before college and shenanigans ensue.

28. Letters to Juliet (2010)

One of the best romance travel films of this century, Letters to Juliet begins in Verona at Shakespeare’s Juliet Balcony before travelling around Tuscany in search of long lost love.

27. Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again (2018)

After the success of Mamma Mia, this sequel follows Donna’s backpacking journey and exploits through Paris before settling down on a paradise-like island in Greece .

Voted 6.8/10 on IMDb

26. A Good Year (2006)

Russell Crowe plays a high-powered London businessman turned vineyard owner as he learns to appreciate the slow life (and good wine) in the French countryside.

Voted 7/10 on IMDb

25. P.S. I Love You (2007)

This tragic love story starring Gerard Butler and Hilary Swank unfolds amongst the rolling hills of Ireland , specifically the picturesque Wicklow Mountains.

Voted 7.1/10 on IMDb

24. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Proof that not everyone changes during the trip of a lifetime, but Vicky and Cristina still have a summer in the famous Catalan city they will never forget.

23. Wild (2014)

Cheryl Strayed’s life is at a crossroads when she decides to walk the Pacific Crest Trail along America’s west coast and move past the pain of her mother’s death and breakdown of her marriage.

22. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Three brothers hope to experience a ‘spiritual awakening’ on a train ride throughout India. The use of such a huge travel cliché makes for a humorous watch.

Voted 7.2/10 on IMDb

21. Copenhagen (2014)

Half-Danish William travels to Copenhagen during a backpacking trip to trace his father’s family. Denmark’s capital city is so prominent in the film’s narrative, it’s practically the main character.

20. Tracks (2013)

Based on a true story, Robyn Davidson trekked across the Australian outback defying illness and dehydration to develop a deeper understanding of her home country.

19. The Way (2010)

Martin Sheen takes his late son’s place on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage across Northern Spain . Featuring beautiful Galician landscapes and the notion that you’re never too young for a great adventure.

Voted 7.3/10 on IMDb

18. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

Turning his daydreams into reality, Walter Mitty travels to Greenland, Iceland and the Himalayas in search of an elusive piece of camera film and ends up finding his courage to face the unknown.

17. Easy Rider (1969)

Inspiring serious wanderlust for motorbike enthusiasts, Easy Rider is the OG bike movie as two guys travel all over the USA for a drugs deal.

Voted 7.4/10 on IMDb

16. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

One of the best thrillers in the last 20 years, Matt Damon’s Mr Ripley cons his way around Italy’s elite in Sicily , Rome , San Remo and Venice .

15. To Catch A Thief (1955)

Alfred Hitchcock hits the French Riviera for a stunningly beautiful crime caper starring Grace Kelly and Cary Grant. The film road trips through Monaco , Nice and Cannes .

Voted 7.5/10 on IMDb

14. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

A drag act travelling through the Australian outback singing Abba in a rickety old bus called Priscilla? It shouldn’t work, but it does.

Voted 7.510 on IMDb

13. The Indiana Jones Series (1981-2008)

It’s physically impossible to watch all four Indiana Jones movies without wishing you were a whip-cracking archaeologist travelling to places like Eygpt and Nepal to uncover secret treasure.

Voted 7.6/10 on IMDb (Average of 4 films)

12. Midnight in Paris (2011)

One of the best travel movies in terms of travel planning, you could just follow where Owen Wilson’s character visits in the film! A very wanderlust-inspiring comedy.

Voted 7.7/10 on IMDb

11. Lost in Translation (2003)

Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson are lost in translation in Sofia Coppola’s acclaimed drama which shows us that the relationships we make while travelling are often more important than the sights we see.

Voted 7.8/10 on IMDb

10. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

Before he was Che Guevara, he travelled through Peru (including Machu Picchu), Bolivia , Chile and Venezuela . The Motorcycle Diaries is not just a road movie, it documents how travel can change the course of your life forever.

9. In Bruges (2008)

The main characters may not be enjoying their break in Bruges , but the film still flaunts how beautiful the Belgian medieval city is if you’re not laying low after committing murder.

Voted 7.9/10 on IMDb

8. Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer star as unlikely lovers over one summer in the beautiful Lombardy region in Italy .

7. The Before Trilogy (1995-2013)

Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight shows how a holiday romance can become something much more while set in the beautiful backdrops of Vienna , Paris and Messenia, Greece .

Voted 8/10 on IMDb (Average of 3 films)

6. Roman Holiday (1953)

This Hollywood classic stars Audrey Hepburn as a Princess who wants to experience the magic of Rome as a regular traveller and Gregory Peck as a journalist who becomes her willing tour guide.

Voted 8.1/10 on IMDb

5. Into the Wild (2007)

This ultimate ‘leave everything and travel’ film is paradoxically both wanderlust-inducing and a cautionary tale about recklessness and appreciating what you have.

4. Lion (2016)

Five-year-old Saroo becomes separated from his family in India and is eventually adopted by an Australian family. A beautiful film spanning two nations and cultures.

3. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

David Lean’s cinematic masterpiece takes us on an epic journey via camel through the deserts of the Middle East .

Voted 8.3/10 on IMDb

2. Forrest Gump (1994)

This is the best travel movie to watch if you’re heading to the USA . Forrest Gump travels all over the country taking us, and his magnetic zest for life, with him.

Voted 8.8/10 on IMDb

1. The Lord of the Rings Series (2001-2003)

Hobbiton has to be on every traveller’s bucket list. You can’t travel to Middle Earth but you can travel to New Zealand , which is just as good in my opinion.

Voted 8.8/10 on IMDb (Average of 3 films)

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Best Travel Movies of All Time That will Captivate You

Inspirations

Last Updated on: Jun 5, 2024  

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that movies can inspire people. Sometimes if we watch a good movie, it lifts us our spirits and motivates us. For travellers like us, movies are undoubtedly a great source of inspiration. Have you ever felt like visiting a place after watching a travel movie? Well, we have felt the urge to visit a place after watching good travel movies, or any movie that depicts a place beautifully. The first time I saw Sonar Kella by Satyajit Ray, I knew I have to visit Rajasthan. And I totally relived the movie scenes of Joy Baba Felunath (another gem by Satyajit Ray) when I visited Varanasi (Kashi) where the movie is based on. And the list is endless.

This happens to almost all of us. So I asked a few of my blogger friends about their favourite travel movies and here’s what they had to say. With their suggestions, I have collated a list of all-time favourite travel movies that will take you on a virtual tour to a destination. Experience the place and people along with the protagonists. Feel their emotions and who can say, it might end up answering some of your unasked questions! Watch these great travel movies and even if you are unable to travel, these movies will surely give you an armchair travel experience!

Table of Contents

List of Favourite Travel Movies according to Travel Bloggers

Roman holiday (1953).

IMDb Rating: 8 Available on: Amazon Prime

Contributed by Bisola from Bis to The World

One of my favourite travel movies is Roman Holiday. I love Audrey Hepburn and her perfect eyebrows so when I watched Roman Holiday, I was hooked! And as the title implies, it’s based in Rome.

The movie is a ‘modern’ fairy-tale about shy, Royal Princess Ann (Hepburn) on a state visit to Rome and while there becomes frustrated with her lack of freedom and decides to escape and secretly leave her embassy. Gregory Peck plays a US reporter, Joe, in Rome who stumbles on the princess sleeping on a park bench after her escape. Not knowing who she was and thinking she was drunk, he offered his place to stay the night. He finds out who she really is the next day, a princess eager for some adventure and immediately sees that he might have stumbled on the story of his career.

He becomes her guide as she goes incognito, lets her hair down, and explores what Rome has to offer! As she enjoys her freedom, Joe plots with his photographer friend to take pictures of Ann dancing, smoking and getting into trouble for his building story. But he starts falling for her, and battles with himself on possibly betraying her. Such a lovely film! This was Audrey Hepburn’s debut performance and she won an Oscar for it!

I love this film because, although it’s super old and in black & white, the love story was cute, but the way Rome looked was priceless. It made me want to visit Rome immediately and that’s what I did, but, years later. I spend my 25th birthday in Rome trying to live my best Roman holiday. Even went on a restaurant where they shot one of the scenes and had dinner there facing the Spanish steps.

Out of Africa (1985)

IMDb Rating: 7.2 Available on: Netflix

It is a film that will make you fall in love with Africa. Meryl Steep and Robert Redford star in this film about a married baroness with an infidel husband falling take you on a virtual tour to the African safari and might make you yearn to travel to Africa.

Thelma and Louise (1991)

IMDb Rating: 7.5

Thelma and Louise is definitely a classic. This is one of the first movies to tell the truth about women’s lives, friendship and bonding. The film is about two friends Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) set out on an adventure to take a break from their banal life. They enjoy their moment of freedom on the road trip, but things soon take a wrong turn. Though the girls did not get a happy ending, but this movie actually paved the way for several women hitting the road. A well-cast and well-made movie, its screenwriter Callie Khouri became one of the few women to win an Academy Award for best original screenplay.

Before Sunrise (1995)

IMDb Rating: 8.1 Available on: Netflix

Contributed by Cass from Cassie the Hag

‘Before Sunrise’ is a simple but beautiful film directed by Richard Linklater (now better known for ‘Boyhood’). American Jesse and French Céline meet on a train to Vienna. The plot follows them over just one night, walking through the beautiful streets of Austria’s capital city before Céline must catch her train at dawn. Their stroll around Vienna passes both impressive and simple landmarks, which will evoke a familiarity to any traveller who enjoys seeing a new city without a schedule.

Although I have not yet visited Vienna, I could still relate the film to my own solo travels in Europe . I sympathised with how both characters quickly bond and form a connection over their contrasting journeys. They open up to each other believing they’ll never see each other again. Far from an adventure travel movie, this film will appeal to those of us who understand travel is often less about the places and more about the connections and conversations that surprise and nourish us along the way. Though I’d love to visit Vienna now too!

French Kiss (1995)

IMDb Rating: 6.6

Contributed by Jade from The Migrant Yogi

French Kiss is a romantic comedy from the mid-1990’s that was filmed on-location in (you guessed it) France.  The movie is about an American woman, Kate (Meg Ryan), who, terrified of flying, has to travel to Paris to win her fiancé, Charlie (Timothy Hutton), back from a young French ‘goddess’.  The Frenchman seated next to Kate on the plane, Luc (Kevin Kline), uses her to smuggle a stolen diamond necklace into the country.  This is completely unbeknownst to Kate.  Once the plane lands in France, an Inspector General (Jean Reno) spots Luc while Kate heads off to her hotel.  Eventually Luc tracks Kate down and Luc aims to get his necklace back (which Kate still doesn’t know she has in her possession).  This is all under the guise of helping Kate get her fiancé back.  The two share some sparks as they traverse France in search of Charlie and the ‘goddess’ all while evading the Inspector.  As one could imagine, eventually sparks begin to fly between Kate and Luc.

The movie travels with the characters from Paris to Provence and la Côte d’Azur, and gives some great, classically French scenery along the way – including a hilarious train scene in which a lactose-intolerant Kate describes (in detail) her sampling of 452 of French cheese.  I’m not usually into romantic comedies, but this movie is actually pretty funny.  It makes me want to return to France every time I watch it, reliving the cheese platters and champagne tastings that the country is famous for.

PS: For my Indian readers, if the plot sound familiar, yes the film was remade in Bollywood in 1998 as Pyar To Hona Hi Tha!

Seven Years in Tibet (1997)

IMDb Rating: 7.1 Available on: Netflix

Contributed by Wendy Werneth from The Nomadic Vegan

My favourite travel movie is Seven Years in Tibet, which I first saw with my husband (who until that night was just a close friend) back in 2002. And I don’t just love the movie for sentimental reasons, although the fact that my husband and I became a couple that night does make it even more special for us.

Seven Years in Tibet tells the true story of Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian mountaineer who escaped from a British detainee camp in India and snuck his way into Tibet at the height of World War II. He was one of few foreigners who had ever visited Tibet, which at that time was a very isolated country. Harrer, who is played by Brad Pitt in the movie adaptation of his life, ends up staying in Tibet for seven years and develops a strong connection with its culture and its people. He even becomes the private tutor of the Dalai Lama, who was just a boy back then.

When watching the film, I was mesmerized by the stunning landscapes as well as the unique culture of Tibet. The film is set just before the Chinese invasion when Tibetan culture was still completely intact. It took another 17 years, but in 2019 my husband and I eventually made it to the Rooftop of the World, as Tibet is known. Even though we were forced to join a Chinese-approved group tour of Tibet , we were still able to experience a slice of life in this fascinating part of the world.

The Castle (1997)

IMDb Rating: 7.7 Available on: YouTube

Contributed by Audrey Chalmers from See Geelong

One of Australia’s best-loved and most widely quoted movies is the comedy The Castle. I especially love it because it’s set in Melbourne, Australia just an hour from my hometown Geelong . And when I’m travelling I watch it for a taste of home.

The movie has a simple David and Goliath type storyline that showcases the nature of Australians in a comedic yet wholesome way. The quirky Kerrigan family love their home which is located just a few metres from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. Government and airport officials reveal plans to force the family out of their home to make way for an airport expansion. The Kerrigans then hire a bumbling solicitor to help them with the fight of their lives.

The Castle was made 22 years ago, yet it still manages to feature on ‘Best Australian Movies’ lists. I think it’s because the film is about what is most important to us Aussies, looking after your family, owning your own home, and standing up for what’s right. But for me it’s just hilariously good fun.

Amelie (2001)

IMDb Rating: 8.3 Available on: Amazon Prime

Contributed by Claudia from My Adventures Across The World

Without specifically being a travel movie, Amelie will definitely inspire you to travel to Paris. The movie was released in late 2001 and launched French actress  Audrey Tatou, who plays the role of Amelie, a young Parisian living and working in Montmartre – one of the places in Paris you really should not miss .

Amelie, a terribly shy woman, goes about town on a mission to have a positive impact on anybody she meets. She teases her father to get out more and travel by stealing one of his garden dwarf and sending it on a world tour with a flight assistant friend – who regularly sends photos of the dwarf in the mail.

She manages to set up one of her hypochondriac colleagues (who also works at a café in Montmartre) with a paranoid customer. Yet her biggest challenge is tracking down the man she falls in love with, who accidentally drops a book of photo-booth photos. Shy as she is, she eventually meets him and starts a relationship with him. The scene in which they roam the streets of Paris on a scooter is one of the most iconic of the movie.

Adding to this, the incredible soundtrack you will never tire to listen to. It’s a great feel good movie. You will be captured by the story, the music and the views. You will enter Amelie Poulin world and you will want to stay there.

Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)

Available on: Netflix

Contributed by Diana from Travels in Poland

There are several installments of the movie Lord of the Rings, which was filmed in the beautiful country of New Zealand.  Most people are aware of the fictional fantasy novels written by J.R.R. Tolkien which have been made wildly more popular as a result of the movies.

The movies are based upon several books and follow the story of a ring that has been lost and is being sought out by many different characters.  The characters are all different kinds of forces that are trying to find it and use it for its power to rule Middle-earth.  Eventually, a young Hobbit named Frodo finds the ring, and adventures across the realms include worlds of elves, dwarfs, hobbits and men.  The story follows as he tries to find the balance between good and evil and meets powerful forces that work to take the ring from his possession.

The movie is spectacularly done, and the backdrop is across more than 150 locations in New Zealand.  One of the most iconic locations is the town of Matamata which shows the Hobbit village in the movie, and remains a permanent attraction.  Among other locations, Mount Aspiring National Park is another beautiful location that would be great to visit.  The striking landscape of New Zealand is prominently featured throughout the film and creates wanderlust for travellers who would want to be in an iconic natural setting.

Count of Monte Cristo (2002)

IMDb Rating: 7.8             

Contributed by  Lauren from The Expat Chronicle Blog

Maybe it’s the romantic love story, the tale of triumph or the breathtaking French backdrop, but one of my absolute all-time favourite travel movies is the Count of Monte Cristo (2002).

The movie is an adaptation of the story written by Alexander Dumas and stars the incredible Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ).

Set in 1815 the southeastern port city of Marseille, France, Caviezel plays the role of Edmund Dantes. He is a modest, kind and trustworthy sailor who is falsely accused by his jealous “best friend” of treason and is sentenced to life. After spending six years in the horrid conditions of his cell, he is met by an elderly prison mate of 11 years attempting to dig his way out. The pair forms a friendship and makes an agreement to escape together.

The escape does not go as planned but Dantes is still able to achieve freedom and flee back to Marseille with the help of some rebellious pirates. From this point on in the story, Dantes plans the ultimate revenge on the best friend who betrayed him, the city magistrate who imprisoned him and the lover he left behind.

By discovering a cave of hidden treasure (an estimated 80 mill francs to be exact) known only by the elderly prison mate, Dantes assumes the hidden identity of The Count of Monte Cristo.

The story is a tale of heroism, faith and friendship. It captivates me every time my husband and I watch it and although we know the ending, we often find ourselves cheering for the underdog, Dantes, throughout each scene.

Having had the opportunity to visit Marseille this past Fall and catching a glimpse of the famous Chateau d’If prison island in the distance was chilling. Although we did not have time for a tour of the prison, it is most certainly on our list for next visit!

Lost in Translation (2003)

IMDb Rating: 7.7 Available on: Amazon Prime

Contributed by Dave Chant

After directing the hauntingly beautiful Virgin Suicides in 1998, Sofia Coppola came back in 2003 to direct the equally great Lost in Translation. It stars Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson as two strangers – Bob and Charlotte – lost in Tokyo, Japan.

Bob is a middle-aged American movie star arriving in Tokyo to film an advert for whisky, and Charlotte is married to a celebrity photographer, who is on assignment in Japan. It’s a beautiful, poignant and subtle portrayal of her strangers can meet and bond in a completely alien place.

The real key to Lost in Translation is its nuance. It can be taken on many levels. Tokyo is intriguing and you want to enter that world, visit it, be shocked by it as the main characters are. Things are literally lost in translation, a typical feeling for those that travel. But Tokyo is also held at a distant. Though the protagonists do venture out, there’s a coldness to it all – the city is mostly seen through taxi and hotel windows.

On a simple level, Bob and Charlotte are lost in the strange world of Japan and few places could make such a discrepancy between the world they are used to. But they are also lost in their own relationships and lives back home. In a strange way they are less dissociated to the real world in their travelling home then they are back home. Home for Bill is a series of disappointments and different shades of carpet samples he’s sent in the post to decide on.

It’s not all sadness. There are moments of humour and lightness that make this a grown up romance. And Tokyo is, of course, beautiful. I’ve never visited and it’s always been on my bucket list – I’ll have to go soon as I’ve been yearning to see it for twenty years now.

By the end scene of the film, you’ll realise both how life affirming and lonely travel can be, and also how the people you met briefly on the road can have the greatest impression.

Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

IMDb Rating: 6.8 Available on: YouTube Movies

Contributed by Anda from Travel for a While

One of my favourite travel movies ever is Under the Tuscan Sun. It’s an oldie already (2003) but definitely a goldie. Without adding too many details, it is about a divorced writer who buys a villa in Tuscany on an impulse. She remains in Italy and for a while, her life revolves around renovating the quaint house. In the process, she makes friends, ‘adopts’ a family and life restarts before she realizes.

Besides the amazing views of Tuscany from Cortona, Sienna and Florence, the movie takes us to Rome and Positano. It seems designed to make you book plane tickets to Italy. Watching this movie was actually the first time I heard about Positano , which turned into o trip to the Amalfi Coast. It also gave me an idea about the work on an Italian olive farm and I turned that later into a personal experience by volunteering on such a farm.

I visited Rome and Florence but I still have to take a proper tour of Tuscany, rent a car and drive for a few days through that amazing landscape, visit Sienna and Luca, drink Chianti and maybe even stay on a farm and take some cooking classes.

So, next time you have a free afternoon, take some gelato and watch this movie. It will feel like traveling to Italy.

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

IMDb Rating: 7.8 Available on: Amazon prime

The story is about Ernesto Guevara and Alberto Granado, two friends who embark on a motorcycle trip across countries. Ernesto later goes on to become the famous Che Guevara. The film is set in South America, the two friends set off on their battered motorcycle travelling across the deserts and rainforests of South America. During their journey they encounter the poverty of the peasants and realize the difference between the haves and the have-nots. Even if you do not agree with the political attachment of the movie, it is well cast and directed. If nothing, this travel movie will definitely want you to take your motorcycle and hit the roads.

A Good Year (2006)

IMDb Rating: 7 Available on: YouTube Movies

Contributed by By Keri Baugh from Bon Voyage With Kids

One of my absolute favorite travel movies to watch at home is A Good Year, starring Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard.  This lighthearted romantic comedy is set in Provence, France . It is a charming tale of a London-based trader who unexpectedly inherits his uncle’s under-cared for vineyard estate in Provence, where he spent his childhood summers.  He travels there with the intent to sell the property, having no emotional attachment to it. Through the process, he learns a lot about himself and what makes life in Provence so special.

Prior to seeing this movie, I had been to Paris, but never Provence. After this movie, renting a home in Provence was high on my bucket list, as the glory of a summer in Provence takes center stage in A Good Year.  Whether it is the rows of lavender fields, hilltop villages, or the slower pace of life, there is so much magic in Provence.

This movie makes you want to jet set there immediately and indulge in wine, cheese, and delicious breads while taking in the “joie de vivre”. It was the inspiration for us to travel several times to Provence and stay in an old-Provencal farmhouse with our family. We very much felt like we were experiencing A Good Year.  It is such a great travel movie to watch to enjoy the magic of Provence from home.

Mama Mia (2008)

IMDb Rating: 6.4 Available on: YouTube movies

Contributed by Chrysoula from Travel Passionate

Mamma Mia is a feel-good summer movie set on the Greek islands about the lives of mother and daughter, Donna and Sophie Sheridan (Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried). The film sees the main protagonist, Sophie, planning her wedding to partner Sky, on the beautiful islands of Skopelos and Pelion.

The twist in the tale comes when Sophie decides to invite three men to the wedding, any of which could be her father! The ABBA-inspired musical comedy that ensues then follows conversations between Sophie, her partner, her mother, and these three men, trying to navigate the mysteries of Donna‘s wild, younger days.

Apart from the sing-a-long ABBA music and the character interactions, it is the Greek island landscapes that really capture the imagination of the viewer. The film portrays classic white-washed houses contrasted against the rich, azure waters, as well as rocky coves, pristine chapels, and traditional farmhouses that make you want to live the island dream!

I love Mamma Mia as it’s a light-hearted, warm movie that can cheer me up and make me think about beautiful Greek islands on even the drabbest winter day. While it’s obviously cheesy in places, this is all part of the charm and it’s a great film to watch with your girls’ friends with a drink in hand!

In Bruges (2008)

IMDb Rating: 7.9 Available on: Amazon Prime

Contributed by Veronika from Travel Geekery

Travel movies tend to be usually romantic and/or melancholic. That’s not the case with “In Bruges” from 2008 staring Colin Farrell. The movie is a cross between drama and comedy with a twisted detective plot.

The main part of the movie takes place in Bruges, a beautiful town in Belgium just an hour away from Brussels. The duo of hit men spends their time in Bruges awaiting orders from their boss. While one of them loves Bruges and wants to enjoy his time there, the other one, Colin Farrell, is the always-grumpy hater who doesn’t like anything. But Bruges’ charm eventually gets to him too in the end.

I like the movie since it’s raw and fun and some of the jokes are of a high caliber. I remember cracking up often while watching it.

I visited Bruges even before seeing the movie and it served as a great enhancement of my memories from the enchanting town. At the same time, it got me thinking what all could go on behind the picture-perfect tourist sites.

The movie will perfectly transport you virtually to Bruges, so in a way you can use it as an armchair travel experience .

Angels and Demons (2009)

IMDb Rating: 6.7 Available on: Amazon prime

Contributed by Kenny from Knycx Journeying

If you are a fan of Dan Brown – you must know who is Robert Langdon. His adventure in the series was so intense that you may lose sleep wanting to finish the book as soon as possible. In case you don’t have the time, watch the three blockbuster movies that were played by Tom Hanks to have a taste of the Langdon’s world.

Angels & Demons is the first one to watch – because this is the first novel of the series that starts it all. The mystery thriller took places in Rome, Italy , where Dr. Langdon, partnered with beautiful CERN scientist Dr. Vittoria Vetra, in the quest to recover a missing vial of antimatter from an Illuminati terrorist, who planned on destroying the Roman Catholic Church by annihilating the entire Vatican City.

So why do I love the movie? The story is filled with brilliant plots, heart-racing catch-and-chase scenes, riddle-solving that based on ancient symbology, secret societies, and conspiracy theories, all under the backdrop of the Eternal City. Follow Dr. Langdon’s path and visit the heritage sites in Rome, from the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Santa Maria del Popolo, Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter’s Square to Basilica, Castel Sant’ Angelo and Passetto… Trust me, the movie takes you through a journey like no others; You will definitely see the paintings and sculptures, symbols, and architecture from a completely different point of view.

Eat Pray Love (2010)

IMDb Rating: 5.8 Available on: Netflix

Contributed by Lara from Both Feet On The Road 

Eat Pray Love is the perfect feel-good movie for anyone who’s looking for some travel inspiration or who’s at a crossroads in their life. Should I travel the world or find a steady job and settle?

Julia Roberts plays a recently divorced woman, who decides to take a sabbatical and travel to Italy, India, and Indonesia. The movie is based on the book of the same name. First, she travels to Rome in Italy, where she takes Italian classes, meets new friends and mostly, eats a lot of delicious food. If Italy wasn’t on your bucket list yet, I am sure that all these shots of food will put it right at the top!

After Rome, she travels to Delhi in India to stay at an ashram and meet her guru. This is more of the spiritual part of the movie, hence the second word of the title: Pray. Lastly, she travels to Bali in Indonesia where she finds peace and balance and eventually love.

I love the fact that this movie takes you through so many beautiful places across the world. I had already fallen in love with Rome and Italy before the movie, and Bali had been on my places visit for quite some time. But it did inspire me to add a Vipassana meditation retreat to my bucket list.

And even though I hate the clichés of people going traveling to find themselves, there is some truth in the cliché and the movie, which is why it is such a great movie to watch for travel lovers!

The Way (2010)

IMDb Rating: 7.4 Available on: YouTube / Amazon Prime

Contributed by Campbell & Alya from Stingy Nomads

The Way is a movie about walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage from St Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The movie follows a group of pilgrims on the Camino on the 800 km journey walking in Northern Spain. It shows different parts of pilgrims’ life on the Camino including challenges on the way, relationships between people that meet on route and different reasons why people walk the pilgrimage. We’d recommend watching the movie if you’re planning to walk the Camino and definitely watch it if you are one of the handful of pilgrims that have not seen it!

We watched this movie while walking the Camino, one of our fellow pilgrims told us about it. It was interesting to recognize some of the scenery we have already passed and we laughed, because some of the characters and situations in the movie reminded us a lot of what we experienced on the Camino. We were on our way to Portugal to walk the Camino Portuguese, another Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, from Portugal to Santiago de Compostela in Spain with family when the lock down started and will do this next summer. It is an inspirational movie that can be enjoyed by anyone and the movie may even inspire you to walk the Camino!

Midnight in Paris (2011)

Contributed by Lauren from Always Find Adventure

“Midnight in Paris” a Woody Allen film that takes place in Paris, France , one of my favourite cities. The first scene of the movie is a 5-minute long montage of all the beautiful areas of Paris. Just that is enough to make you lust after the city. In the movie, Gil Pender played by Owen Wilson also becomes enchanted with Paris, therefore I relate to him. But the movie not only takes place in current-day Paris. Gil drunkenly stumbles into a car at midnight, only to find himself in Paris during the 1920s. He’s surrounded by famous creators of the time like Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Scott and Ella Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Gertrude Stein. What an awesome concept!

Another reason I love this movie so much is that I relate to Gil’s struggles of straying and finding one’s path. Gil’s character is blinded by love and totally disregards his own wants and needs because he’s infatuated with his materialistic fiancée, Inez (played by Rachel McAdams). Gil wants to change his career from making good money writing garbage movie scripts and instead, wants to continue on his passion project, his novel, which has no monetary guarantee. He gains confidence through his literary heroes and comes to his senses at the end of the movie, finally breaking free of the illusions.

It’s funny because what may have been actual ‘illusions’ and ‘drunken adventures in his mind’ are the exact things that helped him see the reality of his situation. I relate to his character because, I too, like many of us travel content creators, was struggling with my seeing my career path clearly. Like Gil, I knew all along what I wanted to do, but was blinded by the pressure of society to ‘be successful’ by climbing the corporate ladder. I won’t give away the ending, but I’ll tell you it’s a happy one.

The Loneliest Planet (2011)

IMDb Rating: 5.5 Available on: YouTube

Contributed by Emily from Wander-Lush

Not many people have heard of this film before, but The Loneliest Planet is one of my favourite travel movies of all time. Set in the Republic of Georgia against a backdrop of the majestic Greater Caucasus mountains, the story follows a young couple, Alex and Nica (played by Gael Garcia Bernal and Hani Furstenberg), as they embark on a multi-day trek. A third protagonist, a local guide (played by Georgian actor, Bidzina Gujabidze), is recruited to lead them through the mountains.

It’s all fun and games (and breathtaking scenery) until an unexpected plot twist throws the trio into a strange situation. The movie crescendos with one quick interaction and after that, the pace changes dramatically. This is a travel film at heart – the location is the real star – but it also ruminates on themes of love, loyalty and self-preservation. The movie is considered a bit off-beat, mainly because there’s no dialogue. To me, the deafening silence is the perfect way to convey the solitude of the Caucasus mountains.

I first watched The Loneliest Planet when it was released back in 2011. Not only did it get me thinking about visiting Georgia – which I eventually did 6 years later – it also contributed to my decision to move here! I think my love affair with Georgia can be traced back to that first viewing and the movie that sparked my curiosity for a country I knew absolutely nothing about.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

IMDb Rating: 7.3 Available on: YouTube Movies

Contributed by Sinead from Map Made Memories

One of my favourite travel movies is ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ starring Ben Miller. The movie is about a city-dwelling, office-based Mitty who works for Life Magazine but spends his days daydreaming of escape and adventure. To track down an elusive missing photograph, Walter Mitty has to leave his office behind and embark on a round the world journey to trace the photographer of the missing image. Walter visits locations all over the world during his trip – through most of the movie was shot in Iceland, even the parts of the story set in Afghanistan, the Himalayas and Greenland!

The film follows Walter’s growing confidence to make life-changing decisions. It is an engaging, beautifully shot movie with stunning backdrop locations. But for me, what I love about this movie is the ‘feeling’ of what travel gives to Mitty rather than the locations he is in. My favourite part of the movie is when Walter borrows a skateboard to ride down an incredibly scenic mountain road in Iceland (Seyðisfjarðarvegur in Eastern Iceland). Anyone watching the movie at this point will feel Walter’s sense of joy and freedom in his white knuckle ride. We visited Iceland four year after the movie was released and it did not disappoint!

Copenhagen (2014)

IMDb Rating: 7.1

Contributed by Anjali from Travel Melodies

Copenhagen remains one of the most inspiring travel movies I’ve ever watched. As the name suggests, the movie features Copenhagen, Denmark’s vibrant capital city. You know, it’s one of the happiest cities in the world. For a good reason.

The movie is about an unconventional and intricate love affair between two strangers. William – a half-Danish man in his late twenties after backpacking Europe reaches Copenhagen in search of his grandfather. He unknowingly falls in love with his local guide and translator named Effy – a girl half his age who intends to help him in tracing his grandfather.

William is immature for his age while Effy is wiser beyond her age. As the chemistry between the two builds, William realizes that “if the girl of your dreams is half your age, maybe it’s time to grow up!”

From the pretty cobbled streets of Copenhagen to the enticing canals with vibrant buildings of Nyhavn as a backdrop, the city of Copenhagen is so apparent in the movie that it’s hard not to fall for it. I loved everything about the movie.

Copenhagen is the movie that inspired me to take a trip to Copenhagen . I dreamt of exploring Copenhagen the way William and Effy do. The day I landed in Copenhagen, the streets and buildings all look familiar as if I’ve been here before. That’s the magic of this movie! The city, in fact, feels like a protagonist!

Marshland (2014)

IMDb Rating: 7.3

Contributed by Paul from Anywhere We Roam

Featuring the vast natural landscape of Spain’s Andalucía region, Marshland is a killer thriller set between the death of Franco in 1975 and the 1982 election which established the new democratic state.

The story follows two detectives, Pedro Suarez and Juan Robles who are sent to a ‘backwater’ town on the Guadalquivir Marshes in Andalucía to investigate the disappearance of two sisters. What unravels is a series of small town secrets where no-one is as innocent as it first appears.

The backstory of the detectives and the turbulence of the small town runs in parallel with the massive change Spain is going through at the time. One detective is a sour left-leaning idealist, the other a shamed ex-fascist who thought Spain was better under Franco – a sentiment shared by many in the town. Just like the secrets tearing the town apart, the political divide in the country is stretching the fabric of Andalucían society to its limits.

The genius of Marshland is the way it characterises the mood of Spain at the time; a period whose legacy shapes the country that is left behind today. It’s an enthralling look at the mindset of a society emerging from the shackles of fascism and awkwardly embracing the concept of democracy.

Backed by stunning landscapes featuring beautifully crafted overhead shots, it’s a visually exotic and expertly crafted film that makes viewers yearn to experience the mystery of the land and the culture. It’s also a thoroughly engrossing murder mystery

A Walk in the Woods (2015)

IMDb Rating: 6.3 Available on: Amazon Prime

Who says only young men can be the heroes of adventure and travel movies? A Walk in the Woods is the story of two septuagenarians who decides to hike the entire Appalachian Trail. Bill Bryson (Robert Redford) is a popular writer of travelogues who is in a great state of boredom after attending a funeral. This is when he see the marker of Georgia-to-Maine trail and decides on a whim to go all way out. He picks up Stephen Katz (Nick Nolte), an old friend, only because all the others deny accompanying him. The movie takes you through the beautiful Appalachian Trail while resting on the interesting and funny dialogues between the two protagonists. The landscape and sceneries that the movie takes us through is simply gorgeous.

Coco (2017)

IMDb Rating: 8.4 Available on: Disney+Hotstar

Contributed by Rose Munday from Where Goes Rose

One of the best and most endearing travel movies to watch is Coco. This cute Pixar cartoon does a great job of portraying Mexican culture and educating the viewer about Dia de Los Muertos, in English, Day of the Dead.

This unique Mexican holiday celebrates ancestors who have passed on from the physical world by holding lively parties in cemeteries and welcoming them back into the home with ‘ ofrendas ’. These are a type of altar, usually laden with the deceased’s favourite food and drink and photos of the family together. Marigold flowers and incense are also used to guide the spirit home.

Western countries usually see death as a sombre and mournful affair but this is the total opposite in Mexico. Coco explores this exciting holiday through the eyes of a young local boy, Miguel, as he explores the story of his ancestors. Coco is fun and entertaining but also an important cultural watch.

I travelled to experience the Oaxaca Day of the Dead celebrations after having watched Coco. This small city in Southern Mexico was a fantastic place to experience the festival while already understanding the cultural background, thanks to Coco.

Call of the Wild (2020)

IMDb Rating: 6.8

Contributed by Catherine from   Passports and Adventures

One of the best travel movies we have seen recently has been the remake of “The Call of the Wild”. This story is set in the 1890’s in Alaska in Yukon and follows the tale of a large dog called Buck.

Buck has a comfortable life in California but is dog-napped and brought to the wilds of Alaska to join a dog sledge team delivering post along the route between Skagway and Dawson. He is a total novice and one of the funniest parts of the movie is watching him discover snow for the first time. He soon finds his feet and eventually becomes the leader of the team. I won’t spoil the movie by telling you how.

It is an exciting journey as they race from outpost to outpost and town to town and with the help of Buck, the team delivers the mail on time for the first time. However, when the mail route is cancelled, Buck and his team of fellow dogs are sold to a set of greedy gold hunters. Buck is rescued from his harsh new owners by John Thornton, played by Harrison Ford and they begin a new journey together. It is another incredible journey and ends in both tragedy and triumph. You’ll have to watch it to find out more.

The Call of the Wild has a heart-warming story, and it is a great film with wonderful scenes, albeit through CGI. Some have criticised the CGI but for us, it did not detract from the movie or the storyline. In fact, it has made us want to visit Alaska even more. Even our six-year-old son loved it. It is a great travel movie and one to watch with the family.

Bollywood Travel Movies

Zindagi milegi na dobara (2011).

Contributed by Umang Trivedi from Travel Max

The Movie starts with three best friends: Arjun, Imran & Kabir. They are planning a bachelor party before Kabir gets married to Natasha. The Bachelor party is not a conventional one, but rather an adventurous road trip in Spain. During the trip, each friend chooses an activity. The other two have to indulge in the activity picked by the 3rd friend and just cannot refuse.

The movie portrays the beautiful landscapes, culture & vibe of Spain. The countryside with swaying fields, the cities dipped in culture, the friendly locals and a lot more about Spain is portrayed in an impressive and cinematic way. The activities that the friends choose are Scuba Diving, Sky Diving and Bull Racing. In between, the friends also indulge in La Tomatina Festival as well. All these experiences are presented in such a way that I was impressed by the beautiful country of Spain. This movie really inspired me to visit this country and that’s what I loved about the movie.

I visited Spain recently after getting inspired by the movie. The only difference was that I didn’t go with friends, but on a solo trip. It was a long 20-day trip and I did the skydiving course at the same place which was shown in the movie. I spent 15 days in Seville as I trained myself to become a certified skydiver. I had enrolled at Skydive Spain for the AFF certification which is the first step to becoming a certified skydiver. Anyway, I couldn’t complete the course, but that’s a story for another time. Along with Seville I also visited Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon during my trip. I witnessed the Flamenco dance at Seville and it was as gorgeous and fascinating as the movie shows it.

Tamasha (2015)

IMDb Rating: 7.3 Available on: Netflix

I know there are many who do not like this Bollywood flick by Imtiaz Ali, but I absolutely love this movie. Tamasha is a beautiful story that goes beyond “girl meets boy” story and tells us about how often we are live our lives as defined by society and jump into the rat race of life. Tamasha (meaning spectacle) delves on this thought and questions us on why always the same story. The film takes us through the stunning landscapes of Corsica and later the alleys and lanes of Delhi . Even with all its flaws, Tamasha is a well thought movie that made me question my choices in life. Very few movies make you do so and that’s why this is in the list.

Dil Dhadakne Do (2015)

IMDb Rating: 6.8 Available on: Netflix

Contributed By Anwesha Guha from Going Places with Anwesha

Dil Dhadakne Do is an Indian comedy-drama depicting a dysfunctional Punjabi family who invites their family and friends on a cruise trip to celebrate the parents’ 30th wedding anniversary and work together to resolve their differences by the end of the movie. This movie also portrays a more realistic sibling relationship in contrast to the unconvincing over-the-top portrayal for which Bollywood is known for.

I love this movie for two reasons. The first reason is of course due to the travel destinations they show in the movie – the cruise ship sails across the Mediterranean and Europe; stop at various ports in France, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, and Italy. Cruise holidays give you enough time to get down and explore the shores.

The second reason is the message that the movie stands for – it conveys to be fearless, to pursue what you love, and give freedom to your loved ones. In short, traveling makes life more meaningful. This movie also showcases a side of the traveling – the joy of traveling with your pets.

Since most of the story unfolds in the cruise ships, after watching it, I want to go on a cruise across Europe on my 25th wedding anniversary. To achieve that dream, I have to start saving in a travel fund from now onwards.

Jagga Jasoos (2017)

IMDb Rating: 6.5 Available on: Netflix

One of the most underrated Bollywood movies, Jagga Jasoos is about a stuttering boy detective in search of his foster father. Since the boy, played to perfection by Ranbir Kapoor stammers and stutters, he sings to communicate. Thus prose is converted to poetry and silence into music. The film follows the adventure of its hero when he travels to Africa in search of his lost father. The film made in Broadway-musical language takes you to a fantasy world. The film was shot in Darjeeling, Morocco and Cape Town taking you across their beautiful landscapes. Once you watch the film, you will be struck with a sense of wanderlust to travel to these wonderful lands.

Kedarnath (2018)

IMDb Rating: 6.1 Available on: ZEE5

Contributed by Sundeep and Bedabrata of DelhiFunDos

Kedarnath –a  Hindi movie based on an inter-caste love story in the backdrop of floods that devastated the state of Uttarakhand in 2013, is special for many reasons. First, it makes us nostalgic about a childhood trip to Kedarnath, the epic mountain shrine in Uttarakhand, India. Second, it gives us fresh travel goals.

The film is shot in the actual location of Kedarnath and we are spellbound by the beauty of this place all over again. The film has deftly captured the beauty of the landscape. Though the flood scene is created through computer graphics, the rest of the film has brilliantly utilised the bounty of nature almost as a third dimension. The rivers, the mountains, the bridges and the quaint village markets are shot so well that we are almost overcame by an urge to visit Kedarnath soonest possible. Thousands of pilgrims visit Kedarnath for religious reasons but what draws us are the treks and the natural beauty so oozing out of celluloid.

Apparently, the film was shot without disturbing pilgrimage in Kedarnath or harming nature. This is so in tune with sustainable tourism. Having seen Kedarnath decades back from the eyes of a kid, we are sure much would have changed after that. Therefore, we want to experience it all over again and want to revisit every place and redo everything we did in our earlier trip. Call it the nostalgia or the wanderlust of travel bloggers; we have added Kedarnath to our immediate bucket list after watching this film.

So these were a few movies that have inspired travellers like us to venture into unknown lands and explore our own city or town. The list is obviously not a comprehensive one. Do let us know your favourite travel movie by commenting below. If you think any movie should be on this list, let us know as well.

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We have been travelling together since the last 15 years and writing independent and personal travel content since 2014. Travel is one of the best teachers and through this blog, we aim to share our experiences and travel tips. We encourage you to travel more and see the world through your eyes and not through filtered templates.

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I can’t believe I haven’t watched few of these – hides face. Bookmarking this post for a travel movie binge-watching weekend.

Thanks Jyotsna! I havent seen a few of these myself.

Wonderful article and fantastic ideas!!

Thank you, Lauren!

Going by some of the movies you have listed here James Bond movies too should fall into the catagory of travel movies. Thanks for sharing the list.

Have watched half of he movies listed here. Will watch the remaining, all of which which I have come across never agave a serious thought to watch them.

Kedarnath – I found difficult to continue watching after 10 or 15 minutes.

If The Lord of the Rings is a travel movie, so is Ramayana.

Some of my favourites are already listed here. I would have added ‘Dil Chahta hai’ to the list. Thanks for curating the great list 🙂

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IMDb Charts

Imdb top 250 movies.

1. The Shawshank Redemption

2. The Godfather

3. The Dark Knight

4. The Godfather Part II

5. 12 Angry Men

6. Schindler's List

7. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

8. Pulp Fiction

9. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

10. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

11. Forrest Gump

12. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

13. Fight Club

14. Inception

15. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

16. The Matrix

17. Goodfellas

18. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

20. Interstellar

21. It's a Wonderful Life

22. Seven Samurai

23. The Silence of the Lambs

24. Saving Private Ryan

25. City of God

The Top Rated Movie list only includes feature films.

• Shorts, TV movies, and documentaries are not included
• The list is ranked by a formula which includes the number of ratings each movie received from users, and value of ratings received from regular users
• To be included on the list, a movie must receive ratings from at least 25000 users

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Screen Rant

Here are the best time travel movies of the last decade, ranked according to imdb.

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RELATED:  5 Ways The Time Travel Plot Has Been Overused (& 5 It Hasn’t)

While time travel is a science-fiction concept, the idea has been adapted into various genres over the years, from romantic dramas and comedies to comic book movies. When a film can find a new and exciting way to explore this idea, it is a real thrill to watch.

Looper (2012) - 7.4

Before Rian Johnson stepped into the world of Star Wars , he made a much smaller science-fiction film called Looper . Set in the not-too-distant future, Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a hitman who takes out targets sent back in time from the future. However, things get complicated when one of those targets ends up being his future self (Bruce Willis).

Johnson once again shows his impressive skills at crafting a clever and sharp script. It's a thrill watching the pieces of this puzzle gradually come into place in a truly captivating way.

Source Code (2011) - 7.5

Combining the time travel genre with a time loop concept, Source Code makes for a very interesting mystery film. Jake Gyllenhaal plays a soldier who is sent back in time where he inhabits the body of a man killed during a train bombing. As the soldier relives the minutes before the attack over and over, he must discover who is responsible.

RELATED:  10 Best Jake Gyllenhaal Movies, According To IMDb

The trippy premise is used to make a genuinely fun popcorn film. Gyllenhaal makes for a likable hero and the movie keeps you guessing right up until the end.

Predestination (2014) - 7.5

Predestination is a more obscure film in the genre, but it is worth seeking out for any sci-fi fan. Ethan Hawke plays a special agent who uses time travel to stop crime before it happens. On his final mission, he seeks to capture the one target who has always alluded him.

The movie finds its own unique way into the time travel genre. It makes for a tense, exhilarating, and entertaining mystery from beginning to end.

Deadpool 2 (2018) - 7.7

The vulgar, fourth-wall-breaking mutant superhero Deadpool returned for this even wilder sequel. In Deadpool 2 , Wade Wilson must protect a young mutant who is the target of a time-traveling assassin named Cable (Josh Brolin).

Just like the first film, the sequel has a ball  poking fun at the superhero genre , and Ryan Reynolds continues to prove this is the role he was born to play. And while the time-travel premise is nothing new, it is used for some great jokes during the credits.

Midnight In Paris (2011) - 7.7

The romantic-comedy Midnight in Paris proves that time-travel movies don't need to be huge blockbuster adventures. Owen Wilson stars in this film as a struggling writer who, while visiting Paris, is transported back to the 1920s each night at the stroke of midnight.

RELATED:  Owen Wilson's 10 Best Movies, According To Rotten Tomatoes

The movie has a lot of fun with some of the prominent figures of the era's Lost Generation, such as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Salvador Dali. Midnight in Paris  is a charming and funny tale of how we are always looking back.

About Time (2013) - 7.8

Another romantic movie that effectively used the time-travel formula is About Time . In the film, a young man named Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) discovers he can travel through time. He uses the new gift to get the woman of his dreams (Rachel McAdams) but finds that things are more complicated than he thought.

The movie is a funny and clever take on the time-travel concept. It also packs a surprising emotional punch as it explores what we lose over time and how you sometimes have to say goodbye.

Edge Of Tomorrow (2014) - 7.9

Like Source Code , Edge of Tomorrow is a time loop story told on a large scale. Tom Cruise plays a self-centered officer who is forced into the frontlines as aliens attack Earth. After dying in the initial battle, he is sent back in time to relive the day over and over.

The movie is a hugely entertaining sci-fi action film as Cruise's hero keeps learning more and more each time he dies. Emily Blunt also shows her action star talent as the badass hero who teams with Cruise.

X-Men: Days Of Future Past (2014) - 7.9

The X-Men franchise has always had a really confusing continuity . But the two major timelines of the series are brought together in X-Men: Days of Future Past . With humans close to extinction in the future, Wolverine is sent back in time to convince young Professor X and Magneto to stop this from happening.

RELATED:  The 10 Best X-Men Movies (According To Metacritic)

Though there are still plenty of plot holes, it's a lot of fun seeing these two casts come together so effectively. It's a shame the franchise didn't choose to end there as it would have been a fitting finale.

Avengers: Endgame (2019) - 8.4

Another iconic superhero group got to have their fun with the time-travel concept in Avengers: Endgame . After the events of Avengers: Infinity War , the remaining heroes attempt to go back in time to undo Thanos' evil plan.

Endgame was the culmination of the entire MCU franchise that came before it. Despite the huge expectations, it somehow pulls off a fun, thrilling, and emotional ending to this chapter of the franchise. It is also a lot of fun seeing the heroes revisiting some of the most famous moments from the MCU.

Interstellar (2014) 8.6

While Christopher Nolan's Tenet plays with time in a more direct sense, his previous sci-fi epic Interstellar uses time travel in a unique way as well. Matthew McConaughey stars as an engineer who must leave his family behind  to go on a space mission to seek out a new planet suitable for humans to live on.

As McConaughey tries to survive his space mission, Jessica Chastain plays his daughter back on Earth who struggles with being abandoned. It is not until the end of the film when the pieces begin falling into place that we see how Nolan used time travel in a thought-provoking way.

NEXT:  Christopher Nolan's 10 Best Movies, According To IMDb

The 25 Highest-Rated Movies on IMDb, Ranked by Votes

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While internet popularity can be a fickle and fleeting thing, in the case of IMDb , there are a few top-rated movies that tower above their rivals and stand the test of time . Moviegoers can rate the films they see on the website, and some are cemented as being at the top of their class. Seen by many as the go-to resource for film ratings and opinions, the ten most-voted films are usually, if not some of the best movies of all time. At the very least, IMDb's top movies are comfortably the internet's favorite movies and are likely recognizable to most viewers.

As IMDb continues to be a popular resource for those looking for must-see 10-star movies, its ratings and number of voters also constantly change as more viewers flock to the site to share their opinions about their favorite films. For the most-voted movies on the platform, they remain above these shifts, except for some subtle differences in their ranking and number of votes.

25 'Schindler's List' (1993)

Votes: 1.5 million | imdb rating: 9.0.

The magnum opus of legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg , Schindler's List has consistently been in conversation as one of the greatest and most acclaimed films of all time ever since its release 30 years ago. The film follows the incredible true story of businessman Oskar Schindler ( Liam Neeson ), in his pivotal and important role in using factory jobs as a way to save over a thousand Jewish lives from the Nazis during the holocaust and World War II.

Much like many of the other movies in the IMDb Top 250, Schindler's List 's high placement on the site as the #6 best film of all time brings many more eyes and attention to check it out and provide their own votes. This is all on top of the massive legacy that the film had already cemented for itself before this point, winning the Academy Award for Best Picture and being one of the most influential dramas of the 90s. The only thing holding this back from having as many votes as others in the top 10 is the movie's gargantuan 3+ hour length , which is daunting to some casual viewers.

Schindler's List (1995)

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24 'The Avengers' (2012)

Votes: 1.5 million | imdb rating: 8.0.

The first true crossover and quintessential chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe , The Avengers proved the concept of a shared universe and took the world by storm in a way that had never truly been seen before. The film follows Nick Fury ( Samuel L. Jackson ), director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., who enacts the "Avengers Initiative" in calling together a group of heroes in order to stop a new global threat.

Seeing characters from four different blockbuster movies coming together in a beautiful, hilarious, and action-packed thrill ride made a massive splash among audiences, and set the MCU up for success in the decade to come. Even still, as the franchise has seen theoretically higher highs and greater moments, the original crossover event film still has a special place in the eyes of the IMDb user base , as it's still the most voted and popular among the entire franchise.

The Avengers

23 'shutter island' (2010), votes: 1.5 million | imdb rating: 8.2.

One of many iconic and masterful films by director Martin Scorsese , Shutter Island 's high tension, powerful mystery, and iconic twist has helped the film become a fan favorite among the IMDb user base. The film follows the story of soldier turned U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels ( Leonardo DiCaprio ), who is in the middle of investigating the mysterious disappearance of a patient from the hospital for the criminally insane. However, his search proves to be much more difficult than expected, as he is riddled with an array of troubling visions as well as a strange, unknown doctor.

While Scorsese has certainly had higher-rated and more beloved films both before and since Shutter Island , its timing of release, all-star cast, and mystery element have helped it find a massive audience on IMDb . The film's 2010 release coincides with the most popular era of the site's history, bringing many eyes to the newest release from one of the most beloved and acclaimed directors of all time following up on his legendary Best Picture win, The Departed . This, combined with the also high popularity of DiCaprio in 2010, skyrocketed the film to being one of the most watched and rated on the site.

Shutter Island

22 'joker' (2019), votes: 1.5 million | imdb rating: 8.4.

One of the most infamous and controversial superhero movies of all time, Joker 's gritty, R-rated origin story of the clown prince of crime quickly made a name for itself as one of the most defining films of the generation. The film follows the story of failed stand-up comedian Arthur Fleck as the struggles and tribulations of society slowly but surely fracture his mind and transform him into the vicious villainous figure, The Joker. The film also featured a brilliant lead performance by Joaquin Phoenix , who won his first Academy Award for his work in the film.

Joker found the perfect balance between awards contention and mass controversy that quickly made it a must-watch film . Critics were widely divided on the film, audiences fell in love with the film, news outlets were discussing the dangerous aspects of the film's themes and messaging, and all of this combined quickly made Joker one of the biggest films of recent memory. It became the first R-rated film to gross over a billion dollars , and with the upcoming sequel on the horizon, the film's legacy and popularity only continue to grow day by day.

Joker (2019)

21 'saving private ryan' (1998), votes: 1.6 million | imdb rating: 8.6.

A technological marvelstone and one of many masterpieces from Steven Spielberg at the height of his career, Saving Private Ryan is one of the first films that people think of when they think of war dramas. The film follows a group of U.S. troops who, after storming the beaches of Normandy in World War II, come to the realization that three brothers died on the battlefield, with the fourth now being trapped behind enemy lines. In order to save him and give the family some refugee, Captain John Miller ( Tom Hanks ) and a group of seven men are tasked with going behind enemy lines in able to bring Private Ryan home.

The film's striking and nightmarishly realistic portrayal of WWII battles and the carnage of warfare left a powerful impact on audiences that can still be felt today as one of the most influential American war films of all time . The film was largely touted as one of Spielberg's best throughout the 2000s and 2010s, leading to many IMDb users watching and raving about the film and its masterful execution. The film now sits on IMDb as the #24 highest-rated movie of all time, continuing to draw in a larger and larger audience atop its pedestal as one of the highest rated war films on the site.

Saving Private Ryan

20 'the silence of the lambs' (1991).

A cinematic masterpiece and still the first movie many think of when considering psychological horror, The Silence of the Lambs is an award-winning film directed by Jonathan Demme based on Thomas Harris ' eponymous 1988 novel. It tells the story of a young FBI trainee, Clarice Starling ( Jodie Foster ), who asks the imprisoned Dr. Hannibal Lecter ( Anthony Hopkins ) for help in her pursuit of a serial killer, "Buffalo Bill" ( Ted Levine ).

Hopkins' performance as the brilliant psychiatrist and notorious cannibal helps cement the character as a pop culture icon . The timeless film's cat-and-mouse game between Clarice and Lecter, coupled with Buffalo Bill's gruesome crimes, creates a suspenseful atmosphere that's still just as riveting upon a well-deserved rewatch today. The votes on IMDb prove that Silence of the Lambs deserves all the praise it received.

The Silence of the Lambs

19 'the wolf of wall street' (2013), votes: 1.6 million | imdb rating: 8.2.

Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort 's career as a stockbroker as outlined in his eponymous 2007 memoir, director Martin Scorsese 's The Wolf of Wall Street is a renowned dark comedy movie. It revolves around the charismatic stockbroker's (played by Leonardo DiCaprio ) experiences as he rises to financial success after opening his own firm, which engages in fraud and other criminal activities. It also chronicles his epic downfall after his infamy catches the attention of the authorities.

A fantastic movie about excess , the high-energy, darkly comedic exploration of Belfort's unbridled ambition is wholly original and wildly entertaining. This unapologetic portrayal of the chaotic and hedonistic world of Wall Street in the 1990s has understandably been a point of debate among critics and audiences, but it doesn't take away from the film's enduring popularity.

The Wolf of Wall Street

18 'batman begins' (2005).

Christian Bale 's Batman is introduced to millions of fans in Christopher Nolan 's first entry in The Dark Knight trilogy, Batman Begins . The first in the legendary superhero movie trilogy tells the origin story of the legendary DC anti-hero, all the way to his fight against Ra's al Ghul ( Liam Neeson ) and the Scarecrow ( Cillian Murphy ), who want nothing more than to see Gotham in shambles.

The 2005 movie would mark an important turn in the superhero genre, proving that blockbusters can be infused with gritty realism and psychological depth, particularly for the iconic character it portrays. Its depiction of Batman's journey from a traumatized orphan to the caped crusader captures the character's complexities and inner turmoil with ease, laying the groundwork for what many still consider to be the best film series that depicts the anti-hero.

Batman Begins

17 'inglourious basterds' (2009), votes: 1.6 million | imdb rating: 8.4.

One of Quentin Tarantino 's most iconic films, Inglourious Basterds is a unique war movie set during World War II that follows a group of American soldiers led by Lieutenant Aldo Raine ( Brad Pitt ), as they embark on a mission to hunt and exterminate Nazis. Another plot running alongside this is Shosanna Dreyfus' ( Mélanie Laurent ) plan to assassinate Nazi Germany's leadership, and the two stories collide in an explosive way.

Tarantino's movie is a remarkable combination of historical drama, dark humor, and intense action , with its unexpected narrative structure only enhancing the unfolding events. It's a one-of-a-kind humorous portrayal of what is one of the darkest periods of history. Of course, career-best performances from actors like Christoph Waltz (for his portrayal of the villainous Colonel Hans Landa) add depth and an element of rewatchability to the 2009 film.

Inglourious Basterds

16 'gladiator' (2000), votes: 1.6 million | imdb rating: 8.5.

Director Ridley Scott 's Gladiator is a masterwork in the historical drama genre. Starring Russell Crowe as Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, the film portrays his great fall following a betrayal by the emperor's overly ambitious son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Instead of accepting defeat, Maximus works his way up in the arena and swears vengeance, fighting against numerous foes to reach the very top and leave an important message for the emperor himself (with many onlookers).

The film is full of thunderous spectacles that are flawlessly choreographed battles between gladiators, perfectly complemented by a powerful score by Hans Zimmer . Crowe's commanding performance anchors the film, which traces his path to Commodus – and to revenge – in a way that will have viewers rooting for him until the very end. At this point, Gladiator is an essential revenge movie with a dramatic story that benefits from Scott's direction .

15 'Django Unchained' (2012)

Votes: 1.7 million | imdb rating: 8.5.

A fan-favorite Western directed by Quentin Tarantino , Django Unchained tells the story of the titular slave (played by Jamie Foxx ) who gains his freedom when he encounters a German bounty hunter, Dr. King Schultz ( Christoph Waltz ). The duo embarks on a dangerous journey across the country to look for Django's wife, Broomhilda ( Kerry Washington ), who is revealed to have been sold to a cruel plantation owner, Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio).

Widely regarded as one of Quentin Tarantino's best movies , Django Unchained is a modern masterpiece that is unflinching in its use of irreverent humor and stylistic violence to delve into racism and slavery. With stellar performances from its cast (most notably resulting in DiCaprio's glass scene) and no shortage of sharp dialogue, it's easy to see why the offbeat film became mainstream.

Django Unchained

14 'the lord of the rings: the two towers' (2002), votes: 1.8 million | imdb rating: 8.8.

It's hard to call any of director Peter Jackson 's The Lord of the Rings movies bad, but if fans had to pick the weakest entry in the trilogy, it would probably be The Two Towers . Picking up where the first movie left off, the film follows Frodo ( Elijah Wood ) and Sam's ( Sean Astin ) increasingly risky journey to Mordor, as well as Aragorn ( Viggo Mortensen ), Legolas ( Orlando Bloom ), and Gimli's ( John Rhys-Davies ) literally breathtaking pursuit of the Uruk-hai who have kidnapped the lovable duo Merry ( Dominic Monaghan ) and Pippin ( Billy Boyd ).

The epic LotR masterpiece does an excellent job of accomplishing the gargantuan task of bridging the two movies in an exciting enough way that leaves audiences wanting more, but not dissatisfied. One of its many highlights and arguably the best is its dramatic portrayal of the Battle of Helm's Deep, also called the Battle of the Hornburg, which sees some beloved characters up against impossible odds. Its high number of votes on IMDb is a testament to just how many people likely have this bookmarked as part of their annual marathons of the acclaimed film trilogy.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

13 'se7en' (1995), votes: 1.8 million | imdb rating: 8.6.

The twisty crime thriller to end all twisty crime thrillers, director David Fincher 's Se7en set a new standard and elevated the genre when it first premiered in the late 90s. The legendary film is centered on two detectives, the disillusioned William Somerset ( Morgan Freeman ) and his rookie partner David Mills (Brad Pitt). The detectives are assigned to a bizarre case about a serial killer using the seven deadly sins as inspiration for his gruesome yet meticulous murders.

Famous for its unforgettable twist ending , Se7en gives viewers an enthralling story with brilliantly suspenseful moments that build up to its wild conclusion . It was a surprisingly especially dark entry from Fincher, who established numerous trademarks in this film. Fantastic performances from Freeman and Pitt make the flawless material they have to work with even better. It's a movie that captured lightning in a bottle, and one that continues to be referenced, discussed, and studied today.

12 'The Dark Knight Rises' (2012)

Votes: 1.8 million | imdb rating: 8.4.

Set eight years after the events of The Dark Knight , director Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises is the gripping conclusion to his award-winning film trilogy. It depicts Gotham in a state of uncharacteristic peace thanks to the Dent Act, which is unsurprisingly soon disturbed by the iconic villain, Bane ( Tom Hardy ). Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) is forced to come out of retirement one last time to face this new threat, with the help of the reliable Commissioner Gordon ( Gary Oldman ) and an exciting new ally, Selina Kyle, a.k.a. Catwoman ( Anne Hathaway ).

A great example of a final movie done right, The Dark Knight Rises is a proper send-off for the beloved anti-hero , who's impossible not to root for at this point. Gotham's fate hangs in the balance as the caped crusader meets yet another foe. Of course, it's Tom Hardy's portrayal of the villainous Bane that manages to outshine heroic attempts from the protagonist, and will forever be associated with this massively successful trilogy.

The Dark Knight Rises

11 'the lord of the rings: the return of the king' (2003), votes: 2 million | imdb rating: 9.0.

The closer to Peter Jackson's trilogy of films adapting J.R.R. Tolkien 's seminal fantasy novels is blockbuster filmmaking done right. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King provides a satisfying conclusion to the nearly nine hours of story. This film sees Aragorn claim his birthright as the King of Gondor, possibly the most outstanding cavalry charge ever put to film, after an unbelievable struggle. It also includes the final leg of Frodo and Samwise's grueling journey towards the eventual destruction of the ring and the defeat of the big bad, Sauron.

This film holds a three-way tie for the most-awarded film in Oscars history, with Ben-Hur and Titanic all sharing the illustrious honor of taking home 11 awards. Perhaps as much an acknowledgment by the academy of the monumental achievement the trilogy as a whole was, The Return of the King also marked one of the rare times in history where the big winner was an epic, crowd-pleasing fantasy film .

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

10 'the lord of the rings: the fellowship of the ring' (2001), votes: 2 million | imdb rating: 8.9.

The task of adapting The Lord of the Rings trilogy that Tolkien spent most of his lifetime developing — and had a massive influence on the genre as a whole — was perhaps rightly seen as one that was, for all intents and purposes, impossible. However, Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema decided to take on the challenge — and it paid off.

Is the beginning of a tale better than the end? The internet certainly seems to think so, as The Fellowship of the Ring places above the conclusion to the trilogy. Why this is so is anyone's guess — but The Fellowship of the Ring is certainly an excellent, well-made film that does a great job of introducing the characters , their motivations, and the stakes of the story. It sees gorgeous depictions of the Shire, the creation of the Fellowship, and the first hints of the terrible antagonists they'll be facing along the way (including themselves). Among the three films, it's the most rewatchable, not just because it came first, but also due to the magical and nostalgic viewing experience it offers.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

9 'the godfather' (1972), votes: 2 million | imdb rating: 9.2.

Rarely does a film so completely transcend the medium's limits to become a staple of popular culture, but The Godfather is an odd confluence of factors. A niche Hollywood had thought dead, a young, maverick filmmaker with the vision to revitalize the gangster movie genre , and one of the best casts of all time combine to bring this all-time classic to life.

The Godfather portrays Mario Puzo 's mob novel on the big screen, depicting the life of the head of a mafia, Don Vito Corleone ( Marlon Brando ), as well as his reluctant son's – Michael ( Al Pacino ) – path to joining him and eventually taking control. It's mobster drama at its best, portraying the betrayals, violence, and familial conflicts, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at a compelling crime family. It's tough to find fault with this film — everything from the script to the production design, the cinematography, pacing, action, and acting are all top-notch. The Godfather gave viewers a glimpse into the inner workings of a mafia, which revolutionized an entire genre of filmmaking .

The Godfather (1972)

8 'the matrix' (1999), votes: 2.1 million | imdb rating: 8.7.

"What is the Matrix?" is a seemingly simple question, but one that perplexed and intrigued audiences as part of one of the most effective marketing campaigns in history. An odd combination of the height of stunt work, exciting new technologies, and philosophical contemplation of humanity's relationship with machines combined to make The Matrix a massive hit and a cultural phenomenon. It introduced the world to Keanu Reeves ' Neo, who could be the one that could save humanity from a grand illusion, at least according to Morpheus ( Laurence Fishburne ).

This film holds a special place in many people's hearts, and it's easy to see why. It changed the way blockbusters were made, introducing the world to bullet-time and revolutionary special effects, not to mention toe Keanu Reeves' acting chops as an action star. It's worth noting that it's still considered the best one in the Matrix franchise , and is still worth watching again today.

7 'Interstellar' (2014)

Another ambitious film from Nolan, Interstellar is considered one of the best sci-fi movies of all time . Set in a dystopian future where blight is causing the rapid decline of life on earth, the film focuses on a former pilot and now farmer named Cooper ( Matthew McConaughey ), who finds a secret NASA location and is soon placed in charge of a mission that could be humanity's last hope. As he leads his team through a wormhole, they don't expect what they find on the other side.

Interstellar hit every mark, from its stunning visual effects and commendable scientific accuracy to its outstanding performances and surprising emotional depth. Alongside its epic intergalactic story, it tells a more intimate father-daughter narrative that eventually influences Cooper's mission. Judging by its number of votes, it's safe to say that it is the movie for sci-fi fans who have likely gotten their dose of space, mind-bending physics, and dystopian settings on more than one rewatch.

Interstellar

6 'pulp fiction' (1994), votes: 2.2 million | imdb rating: 8.9.

Pulp Fiction is the film that cemented Quentin Tarantino as a creative force in Hollywood. It uses a non-linear narrative structure to depict a variety of arcs, which include two hitmen who have darkly humorous conversations, an actress who gets in trouble after a fun night out, and a Bonnie-and-Clyde-esque couple who hype themselves up for a robbery.

It's hard to put a finger on precisely what makes this film so good — an all-star cast trading barbs with each other from Tarantino's whip-smart script and playing with editing conventions to tell a non-linear story are two of the top reasons. But perhaps most of all, Pulp Fiction is just cool . There's no other word for it. From the stylish hitmen played with panache by Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta to the soundtrack of absolute bangers from start to finish, this film epitomized the mid-90s. It's one of the most influential American films of the decade.

Pulp Fiction

• The Shawshank Redemption